Prepare to enjoy an enthralling day on your Cathar Country – In the footsteps of the Da Vinci Code tour. There is no hotel pick-up for this excursion. You should make your way to the Béziers Tourist Office where you will be picked up in an air-conditioned mini-bus by your bilingual (English and French) driver cum guide.
Your excursion takes you to the heart of Cathar Country in the Languedoc. The Cathars were a religious group, possibly directly descended from the earliest Christians, considered to be heretics by the Catholic Church, which later unleashed the Inquisition against them. Catharism was particularly popular in the Languedoc in the 12th century.
Your guide will explain the Cathars and their beliefs. This is crucial to an understanding of the lore and legends on which books like 'The Da Vinci Code' are based.
After 40 minutes drive from Narbonne you will reach Château de Termes, a magnificent ruined Cathar Castle. There is a 15-minute walk to the chateau, most of which is uphill but not too strenuous.
You will spend about 1 hour and 45 minutes visiting the castle and village and will then have a delicious three-course lunch in a local restaurant. The menu will include:
• Starter: Mixed salad and local charcuterie (cold cuts)
• Main Course: Duck Breast served with mixed, fresh vegetables
• Dessert of the Day
Wine will be included and a vegetarian option is available on prior request.
Your lunch stop will take around 1 hour 30 minutes and you will then drive on to the village of Rennes le Château , a journey of around 20 minutes.
Rennes-le-Château is a small medieval castle village, considered by many to be packed with clues to an alternate view of religious history. Although Dan Brown's bestselling novel 'The Da Vinci Code', does not mention Rennes-le-Château by name, you will soon see that it provided him plenty of inspiration..
See the church renovated in the late 19th century by a controversial local priest, Bérenger Saunière. Hear how a local restaurant owner, anxious to boost business, spread the story that Saunière had discovered a hidden treasure that was the source of his mysterious wealth.
See the curious hilltop tower, dedicated to Mary Magdalene, also constructed by the strangely well-off Father Saunière. Also note that 'Saunière' is the surname of one of the key characters in 'The Da Vinci Code'!
You will spend 2 hours at Rennes-le-Château and then have a 30 minute stop at a local cafe (payable direct) before driving back to Narbonne. The drive to Narbonne takes about 1 hour. You will be dropped off at the tourist office in Béziers.