Where to start ....?

 

Shopping here is such an experience, simple food shopping is such a treat when you see the heaps of shining vegetables and luscious fruit in the shops - ten varieties of mushrooms - six types of tomatoes - several different shaped peaches - and the French bread.....!

 

Supermarkets are open from 9 - 7 every day except Sunday when they are open only in the morning, they are the only shops that do not close at lunch time (12.00 - 2.00). Nearest supermarkets are Intermarche and Carrefour near the Lezignan motorway exit. In the town of Lezignan there is also Lidl and Aldi and a small Carrefour that, unusually, opens on a Sunday morning (a few other shops in the town open then but resolutely close at lunch time). Lezignan has a variety of shops including butchers and a wonderful fish shop that featured on a Rick Stein programme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narbonne is the nearest town and is  sophisticated and elegant, bordering the Canal du Robine. Whilst it has large shops it also has exclusive boutiques, gourmet food stores and antique shops. You tend to find few 'chains' here, the shops are unique and independent and therefore much more interesting. Narbonne shopping area is all pedestrianised, so it makes for a very relaxing time. After shopping you can sit in the shadow of the cathedral at one of the cafe tables, next to the exposed piece of Roman Road, and have a coffee and watch the world go by.

 

Large towns in the area with good shopping centres are Beziers, Carcassonne, Toulouse and Perpignan - Pezenas has many antique shops and brocantes. Perhaps the best large shopping centre, however,  is Montpellier. Park in the Ikea car park and walk through the huge new shopping centre, get the tram to the Place de Comedie (1.50 euros) and explore this ancient and cosmopolitan city, the capital of the Languedoc. You will find shops of every sort and, once you have shopped til you drop, you will find a multitude of bistros and restaurants for your lunch. Montpellier has been a centre for Medicine for centuries and it's open and civilised attitude to people of all nations and creeds ensured that it flourished  - today it has many universities, some still dedicated to teaching medicine.

 

There is another shopping complex, only accessible by car, this is by the Narbonne-Plage motorway exit and the area houses many large stores. There is an arcade with, among other things, a huge Carrefour.  Other large shops are Cultura which offers children's craft activities on Saturdays and Tridome, a DIY shop that is, surprisingly, quite interesting.

 

Depending on your means of travel and luggage space, you might want to take back some food  such as olives, coffee beans, pate, olive oil, truffle oil... the list is endless really.  Alternatively, the clothes here are very stylish and reasonably priced and the table linens are unique and absolutely gorgeous. Of course, if you have room in the boot of your car, wine is also an excellent buy!