The Saint-Laurent Chapel in Moussan

Access. At the Montredon industrial estate roundabout (D 6113), head towards Montredon-des-Corbières (D69). Follow the ‘all directions’ signs in the village, staying on the main road. You’ll arrive near a car park at the junction of Boulevard Docteur Ferroul and Rue de la République.

(S/E) Montredon-des-Corbières – Boulevard Docteur Ferroul.
Leaving the car park, take Rue de la République and walk through the old part of the village until you reach the junction with Rue du Faubourg.

(1) Turn right onto this street and continue to Rue du Buga.

(2) Turn left onto this street and begin the climb up the hill. Pass the Clairière des écoliers (a plantation of 100 trees planted by children in 1987).

(3) At the end of the road, turn right to pass under the Pech de Labade. At the junction with a good track, turn right, then bypass a circular loop on the left. Go round a high-voltage pylon and reach a stream at Camp Auriol.

(4) Cross it at the junction with a track leading to the property. Go round the property on the left and return to the tarmac before the junction with the Ancien Chemin de Névian, which has been converted into a cycle path. Head straight on and follow the Pradines estate to the embankment supporting the Marseille–Toulouse railway line.

(5) Turn left and weave your way between the embankment and a waste recovery and recycling company, staying on the cycle path. Take the underpass beneath the railway line to join the D 269. Follow it to the right along the path running alongside the vineyards until you reach a junction.

(6) Turn left and follow the cycle path towards Marcorignan. You’ll reach the first houses in the village.

(7) At the fork, turn right into Rue des Pins, then into Rue Saint-Jean. You’ll come out onto Avenue de Narbonne. Turn right and use a pedestrian crossing to cross the road.

(8) At the roundabout, turn left into Rue René Cassin, then turn right at the junction with Rue du Bassin. Follow the local signposting (the “L’eau ça coule de source” route) which leads you up to Pech Roumieu.
In 1866, following five years of drought, the local council decided to survey and purchase land at a place known as ‘Pech Roumieu’ to supply three fountains situated opposite the spring. Following several deliberations by the Municipal Council, on 26 June 1872, the project was finalised: “It is appropriate to bring water from the spring into the town (8 litres per minute) to meet the needs of the town, which is threatened with a complete water shortage.”

PR Sentier du Plana (1 yellow line)

(9) At the crossroads, turn right onto the^PR® and cross the Mailloles vineyards to reach the D69. Head straight on to reach the Chapelle Saint-Laurent, hidden in a copse.

(10) After a possible stop, cross the vineyard to the east to reach the access ramp. Leave a short stretch of road to your right.

(11) Begin the climb towards the orientation table on the Plateau de la Bade and enjoy the exceptional views over the lower Aude plain.

(12) Descend via a series of log steps, under the forest canopy, to the Chemin Sous-la-Bade.

(13) Leave the marked trail and head down to the left towards “Sous la Bade”. You’ll come out onto Avenue de la Promenade and head right towards the village. At the junction, turn right onto Rue de la Montée.

(14) Keep right to reach the Roger Cantier stadium. Continue along the “Chemin de Narbonne à Moussan” for 500 m.

(15) At the fork, turn right onto Chemin de Levrette. This long tarmac stretch is quiet and car-free, with vineyards vying for space with the pine forest.

(16) At the crossroads, turn right towards Taillevent. Walk alongside the paddocks of the Écuries de Taillevent equestrian centre. Pass a few buildings whilst staying on Chemin de Levrette. Turn right onto a wider path and, after the entrance (gate) to the Montredon radio tower, arrive at the Domaine de Levrette. Walk past the château before skirting the boundary of the adjoining park. You will emerge onto the Route de Marcorignan (D607); turn right and head towards the park entrance.

(17) With your back to the entrance gate, cross the D607 with care and turn onto a vineyard track. Ignore two successive tracks on the right.

(18) At the fork, turn right then keep straight on at the next junction, under an embankment. Go round the Montgil hill on the left, heading towards a high-voltage pylon.

(19) Pass at its base, join the Ancien Chemin de Névian and rejoin a cycle path.

(20) Turn right, pass the Domaine de la Grange Basse and arrive at the bridge over the railway line.

(21) After the bridge, turn left onto the cycle path which bypasses the D69. Join the D69 after walking alongside the high retaining wall of the cemetery. Walk a few metres along Boulevard Ferroul to return to the car park on Rue de la République (S/E).

(10) Saint-Laurent de Moussan Chapel: a peaceful spot for a picnic

The lack of tree cover along this route means you should avoid doing it in the height of summer.

(10) The Saint-Laurent de Moussan Chapel is a 9th-century pre-Romanesque chapel located in Moussan (Aude department). Its location seems to be explained by its proximity to the ancient Roman villa of Trencianum (whose remains provided the building stones) and the Fount Rougnouso spring, which was reputed to cure skin diseases (rougnous = scabby in Occitan).
The chapel was a place of pilgrimage and a stopping point for pilgrims and monks between the Cistercian farmstead of Fontcalvy (Ouveillan) and Fontfroide Abbey.

Lebrettes Castle is the finest example of a pre-Louis XIII brick-and-stone style, reminiscent of the architecture of the Place des Vosges in Paris. It was built in the early 20th century by a wealthy landowner for his son’s wedding and is said to have been inhabited for only a few days. The construction is of a very high standard, though the architect remains unknown.
Today, the I.M.E. Louis Signoles in Narbonne provides boarding and day care for young people aged 6 to 20 with mild to moderate disabilities, with or without associated conditions.

The "Littorale"
This is a 90 km network of cycle paths established by the Greater Narbonne authority, allowing cyclists to travel in complete peace and quiet, either to seaside resorts such as Gruissan or to the villages surrounding Narbonne via old vineyard tracks. For further details, see here.