Roquefort
des Corbières, in the canton of Sigean,
is a quiet Mediterranean village. Once sleepily hidden away, it
is now more accessible due to the nearby A9 motorway (Sigean exit
n° 39, 4 km away).
Wine-growing continues to be the focus of economic activity in
the Corbières region, and the « Les
Celliers Saint-Martin » cooperative winery does a fine
job of promoting regional wines.
In summer, the various village associations and an active local
council organize two or three events every week : al fresco dinners,
dances, petanque bowls competitions, a song festival, and a sister-city
festival with the other village of Roquefort (where the famous cheese
is made), etc.
For ramblers there are easy walks such as Saint-Martin's Hill,
a short hike through shadowy pine woods, as well as more challenging
hikes such as a 17 km, signposted loop through vineyards and the
mountainous Serre de Roquefort. Two well-known ancient paths cross
through the village : the sentier
cathare and a trail that follows the Gallo-Roman road known
as Via
Domitia of which some traces and a few magnificent milestones
still remain. «Via Domitia» also gives its name to the
local, popular horse riding club, open all year round.
Roquefort is also the home of an active ballroom dancing club,
the Club de Danse Sportive et de Salon des Corbières, open
all year long.
Tennis lovers are welcome to use the public tennis court close
to the children's play area and the rugby ground, where the local
teams meet during the season.
The Hameau du Lac (lake hamlet) is proud of its Lieu d'Art Contemporain,
a gallery set up in a huge former wine cellar. At the end of July,
villagers hold an open air jazz festival under fragrant pines.
The étang
de Bages-Sigean, a large lagoon , is a world all its own, waiting
to be explored either from signposted paths along the shore (on
foot or by mountain bike) or by sailing north from Port
Mahon. Another approach is to sail south from Port
La Nautique. This delicate ecosystem is now under the protection
of the Conservatoire
du Littoral.
Portel des Corbières and its spectacular underground cellar
: Terra
Vinea.
The long, sandy beach of Port-la-Nouvelle
where a whale beached in 1989. Its skeleton has been lovingly reconstructed
by a local wine-grower, who has it on display at his wine storehouse,
and features it on his wine label.
Less than 20 km away
Leucate-la Franqui has world-famous spots for windsurfing, boogie-boarding,
kite-surfing, sand-yachting and kite flying. In April each year,
there is an international wind sports competition : Le
Mondial du Vent.
The Fontfroide
Abbey, a jewel of Cistercian architecture and bastion of the
Roman Catholics at the time of the Cathars.
A little further, but still possible
for a daytrip :
The Cathars
Castle of Quéribus and Peyrepertuse (50 km away via
a picturesque route through the Corbieres heights).
The medieval, walled city of Carcassonne
(60 km on the motorway).
Perpignan and all the riches of the Eastern Pyrenees region, known
as the Pyrénées
Orientales and Catalogne française : Collioure, Port-Vendres,
Tautavel and its European Prehistory Center, etc.
Spain's Cape Creus Nature Reserve is only 70 km away. The Dali
Museum in Figueres and the tapas bars of the fishing harbour
of Cadaquès are just a little further down the coast.