Things to do around the villa
Summer and winter.
Fitou is an ideal base camp, between sea, garrigue and mountains. Whatever the season, everything is within reach.
In summer
Jet ski
Thrills on the Mediterranean, from the water sports bases of Leucate and Port-Barcares.
Quad biking from Fitou
Quad rides starting in Fitou itself: garrigue, Corbieres ridges and backcountry trails, with the lagoon and the sea as a backdrop.
Beaches
The large sandy beaches of Leucate, La Franqui and Port-Barcares, just minutes away.
Kitesurf and sailing
Leucate, Europe's 2nd largest kitesurf spot, where the Mondial du Vent takes place every spring. And for sailing, a school and boat rentals, on the sheltered lagoon or out at sea.
Catamaran trip, by reservation
A day or a sunset at sea from the harbours along the coast: swimming offshore, drinks on deck, the coastline seen from the water. Places go fast in summer: book before your stay, and we will point you to the operators.
Fitou lake and La Palme lagoon
A sheltered stretch of water nearby: paddleboarding, windsurfing, beginner kitesurf, walks and flamingo watching.
Sigean African Reserve
The large safari wildlife park, minutes away: lions, giraffes, rhinos, by car then on foot. Perfect for families.
Cap d'Agde and its marina
Not far, by motorway: one of the largest marinas in the Mediterranean, with yachts lined up along the quays and, every autumn, the boat show where the boats are displayed on the water. Boat trips, long beaches, the water park and the funfair rides of the Ile des Loisirs, and the old town of Agde built in black volcanic stone. A great day out from the villa.
Cap Leucate lighthouse
At the end of the cliff, the viewpoint over the Mediterranean, the lagoon and the Pyrenees: the best sunset around, minutes away.
Restaurants, from the lagoon to the beach
Plenty of restaurants around the villa: the oyster huts on the Leucate lagoon, the terraces of La Franqui and Port-Barcares, the village tables and the winemakers'.
Nights out in Port-Barcares
Bars, nightclubs and the resort's summer events, minutes away: go out at night, come back to sleep in the quiet of the Fitou heights.
In winter
Quad biking from Fitou
Quad rides from Fitou are just as good out of season: garrigue, Corbieres and fresh air, without the summer heat.
Le Barcares Christmas market
The festive spirit of the holidays, by the water, just minutes away.
Skiing in Font-Romeu
The major resort of Font-Romeu in the Catalan Pyrenees, 1 hr 40 away, for a day on the slopes.
Andorra, a shopping paradise
194 km away, beyond the Pyrenees: the principality, its duty-free shops and its ski resorts, for a day out from the villa.
All year round: culture and terroir
The Cite of Carcassonne
Europe's largest fortified medieval city, a UNESCO site, about 1h away.
Fitou castle
In the village itself, the medieval castle overlooks the rooftops, the vineyards and the lagoon: the silhouette of Fitou, a stone's throw from the villa.
The fortress of Salses
Just south of Fitou, minutes away: the huge 15th-century fortress, between the Corbieres and the lagoons, one of the finest in France.
The Cathar castles
The vertigo citadels of the Corbieres: Queribus, Peyrepertuse and Aguilar, perched on their rocks, to explore from the villa.
Wine experiences
Tastings and cellar visits with the winemakers of Fitou AOC, the oldest red wine appellation of the Languedoc (1948), and of the Corbieres, right by the villa: Domaine de la Rochelierre, Domaine Champ des Soeurs, the Jean Marais cuvee, and private experiences to book (private tasting, cellar visit with the winemaker). Walks through the vines, the grape harvest in autumn, and the welcome basket with a bottle of Fitou AOC on arrival.
Muscat de Rivesaltes and sweet wines
Minutes away, the natural sweet wines of Rivesaltes and the Muscat, to taste with the producers at aperitif time, facing the lagoons.
Narbonne
Roman city, gourmet market hall and cathedral, about twenty minutes away.
Fontfroide Abbey
A stunning Cistercian abbey nestled in the Corbieres hills.
Canal du Midi
Walks and cruises along the UNESCO-listed canal.
Gruissan
Circular village, cabin beach and lagoons, the Mediterranean spirit.
Collioure
The colourful Catalan harbour with its bell tower at the water's edge, about 1 hr 30 away.
Barcelona
The Catalan capital, Gaudi, the Ramblas and the Sagrada Familia, about 2 hr by road.
Photo credits
Photos of the region under free licences, via Wikimedia Commons, retouched for the site. The villa and beach photos are our own.
- Garrigue Roquefort-des-Corbières.jpg, Alan Mattingly, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mondial du vent 2013 048.JPG, Bertrand benazeth, CC BY-SA 3.0
- L'étang de La Palme (16124590244).jpg, maxime raynal from France, CC BY 2.0
- Kobus leche - Réserve africaine de Sigean 01.jpg, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cap Leucate - lighthouse 01.jpg, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- "Lydia" (vue avant droite) - Le Barcarès, 2018.jpg, Anthony Levrot, CC BY-SA 4.0
- S01 698 Barcarès, Port de Plaisance - Saint-Ange.jpg, Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20170212 - Pyrénées 2000 - 11.jpg, Fabricio Cardenas, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Andorra la Vella - plantation.jpg, Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ramparts of the historic fortified city of Carcassone 06.jpg, Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Château de Fitou 02.jpg, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Salses-le-Château - Forteresse 00.jpg, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Châteaux du Pays cathare - Château de Quéribus - 02.jpg, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 130605-Fitou-02.jpg, BlueBreezeWiki, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vignoble des gorges des Gouleyrous à l'entrée du site préhistorique de Tautavel.jpg, Christine und Hagen Graf, CC BY 2.0
- Narbonne Cathedrale Saint Just et Saint Pasteur.jpg, Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Abbaye de Fontfroide - le cloître 65.jpg, Renhour48, CC0
- Houseboat Canal du Midi Poilhes-DSC 0082.jpg, P e z i, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gruissan chalets 2.jpg, Jcb-caz-11, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Face sud du clocher de l'église Notre Dame des Anges de Collioure.jpg, Damusmedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sagrada Familia004.jpg, Harmonia Amanda, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Grau de Leucate 001.jpg, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fort de Leucate 2025 - Vue sur l'étang.jpg, Renhour48, CC0
- Cap d'Agde, Plage de La Conque.jpg, Francois Polito, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Glenans raid cata 2008 Hobie Cats.jpg, Matthieu FAURE, CC BY-SA 2.0