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Tuchan is situated in a broad valley in the Corbières hills. There is an abundance of spectacular natural sights in the area, plus many castles and abbeys. Of particular interest are the associations with the Cathars to be found in the ruined hill-top castles and in the walled city of Carcassonne.  The local hill-top Cathar castle is Chateau d'Aguilar and a little further afield, Quéribus and Peyrepertuse but all of the famed Cathar fortresses are accessible from Tuchan, Termes, Puilaurens and Montségur.  The fortified city of Carcassonne is close enough for a day out; visit Lagrasse on the way out/back (medieval town centre and Abbey). Fontfroide Abbey and the cities of Narbonne and Perpignan are worth a visit. Carcasonne Tourism The local gorges on the D14 to Cucugnan, the D123 from Padern and especially the Gorges de Galamus (park, and visit the Hermitage) north of St Paul de Fenouillet are spectacular. South towards Estagel, on D611 - good views of the Pyrenees, especially in the winter. The highest peak is Pic de Canigou (the peak which can be seen from the top floor of the house on a clear day). Canigou You can drive to the Pyrenees in an hour or so and visit the fortified town of Villefranche de Conflent and ride on the 'Little Yellow Train'; the abbeys of St Michel de Cuxa and St Martin de Canigou are not to be missed. Languedoc Guide In the winter the ski resorts (Font Romeu, Les Angles) are close enough (2 hours drive) for a day's skiing and Andorra isn’t too far away for a few day’s break. The nearest beaches are one hour away. The most direct route to the beaches is the mountain road (D12) that goes through to Bacares or alternatively drive past Perpignan to the resorts of Canet, St Cyprien and Argeles or further south to the picturesque sea-side villages of Collioure and Banyuls. There is a safari park in Sigean and Tautavel has a museum for the 'Oldest Man in Europe' (the bones of Tautavel Man found nearby are estimated to be 450,000 years old). Tautavel |