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Saint-Tropez might be the one Europe’s trendiest beach destination right now: it’s part of the French Riviera, the main sunny destination of the continent, if not the world, and it’s on the bucket list of millions of travelers eager to experience some of it joie de vivre.
Unfortunately, this little haven, dotted with beach bars, can be a bit ‘trop‘ – pun intended – especially if you hate hustle and bustle, and you don’t particularly feel like it break the bank for a period of a week, but luckily the luxury city isn’t France’s only Mediterranean jewel worth exploring.
For smaller crowds, lower prices and equally beautiful summer weather, you can leave celebrity-frequented Saint-Tropez Narbonnethe beach paradise of France (on a budget):
A beautiful old city in the south of France
Narbonne, the largest commune in the Aude department, in the sunny south of France, is a classic example of a city of inestimable cultural wealth that could rival any of Europe’s popular ancient seaside gems, yet it is in one way or another still flying under the radar.
It was founded by the Romans in the first century BC and was an important trading port in the Mediterranean. It flourished as a heavily fortified, prosperous city, a status it retained for much of its history, and among the many empires under which it existed.
The UNESCO-protected Old Town is a clear reflection of centuries of history, with its cobbled streets, narrow houses, Gothic cathedral and monumental Archbishop’s Palace, best known for its adjacent keepor defense tower, which offers views of the ocher cityscape below.
However, unlike other historic cities of that time, Narbonne is not just any open-air museum: It’s probably the motherland’s best-kept coastal secret, even if it’s not exactly on the coast.
Beautiful Mediterranean beaches
Old Narbonne may be inland, but wider local authority is part of the Mediterranean, with the city proper being a short city 15 minutes drive to the coastlinefull of sandy beaches bordered by warm, azure water and picturesque fishing villages.
Narbonne beach is the most touristy of all as it is still within the city limits, with plenty of beachside restaurants and hotels to choose from, although tourists can find the clearest seas in a 30-minute drive south to Leucate ( and the best oyster shops). throughout the region).
Other beautiful beaches in and around Narbonne include Port La Nouvelle, a secret favorite among locals because the sand is silky and the waters are shallow and swimmable, resort-lined Valras, where a honey-colored coast awaits, and a more wild beach. , unspoilt Portiragnes.
However, unlike Saint Tropez, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to spend a few days on Narbonne beach:
Narbonne is cheaper than the Côte d’Azur
If you are staying on the ocean side, Logis Hotel De La Clape has overnight rates from just $110 this summer, with a pool and just 150 meters from Narbonne beach; in the old town of Narbonne it starts from one even cheaper $87 centrally located Zenitude Hotel.
Compared to most southern French holiday towns, restaurants in Narbonne are reasonably priced: order seafood pasta and a glass of wine in a local, cheap brasserie will only cost you about $25, not to mention it’s affordable street corner bakers and snack shops.
Even flying to Narbonne – from Europe – is possible relatively cheapwith cheap Ryanair flights to Béziers Cap d’Agde airport, some 34 kilometers outside the city, available from just $18.63 from a number of departure points on the continent.
Obviously, there are no direct flights available from the United States, so getting there usually requires a one-stop flight, or first non-stop to Nice, on the French Riviera, before hopping on the westbound train towards Narbonne.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
