The Area
The Village
The gîte is in the village of Fabrezan, on the D611 and just 5-10 minutes from the Lezignan-les Corbières motorway (A61/E80) exit (between Carcassone and Narbonne). Fabrezan is a traditional wine village of the region which fully retains its French character. The local people are friendly and welcoming to visitors while retaining their local customs and way of life. Unlike many villages in the area Fabrezan does have shops, bars and restaurants which means you do not have to drive just to get a baguette and croissants in the morning but can nip out to the village baker's shop. In addition to the baker's there is a well stocked grocery shop, a general store, a pharmacy, tobacconist/newsagent's and the obligatory hairdresses's (found even in the smallest village). A market is held twice a week in the village square and a pizza van visits twice a week (even in the winter).
The centre of Fabrezan consists of old traditional houses, many of them very grand vineyard owner's properties dating from the nineteenth century. Most of the streets are narrow and twisty and the village has a grand old church and a medieval tower, and of course a "Place de la Republique". There are several "caves" where you can taste the local wines.
Entertainment can also be found in Fabrezan. There are three bars, one of which serves inexpensive meals (6-10 euros). The latest bar to open provides live musical entertainment (jazz, blues, folk etc) and has a large enclosed garden ideal for children. As well as the inexpensive bistro you can also eat, during the summer season, in a very pleasant and excellent restaurant. The village has modern tennis and boules courts.
The Town
The nearest town is Lezignan, just 10 minutes away by car. Lezignan has three supermarkets (Champion, Les Mousequetaires and Aldi) as well as many other shops, including excellent butchers and fish shops (where you can buy home-made bouillabaisse and zarzuela!) and nemerous other shops and restaurants. All your banking can be done here and car and van hire is available. Lezignan has a railway station.
The Surroundings
Fabrezan is situated in the Corbières, a wine producing region rich in history and with a varied landscape. Just to the south west of the village are the Corbières Hills, rolling, wooded and sparesly populated, home to wild boar. To the north is the Minervois, another famous wine region, full of pretty villages, and beyond the plain of the Minervois is the Black Mountain, rugged, wooded and wild. All this region of the south of France is known as the Pays Cathar and is full of medieval monuments related to the histrory of the cathars. Close by are numerous pretty historic villages such as Lagrasse, Villerouge and the abbey at Frontfroide.
Further afield (about 20 minutes drive) are the mediterranean beaches of Narbonne and Gruissan and other more secluded places and the attractive city of Narbonne. The coastal area of Narbonne includes many salt-water lakes (étangs) which provide a unique habitat. For a more detailed description of what to see and visit see the section "Things to do".