Discover the seaside resort of Narbonne-Plage
Above all a family-friendly seaside resort, Narbonne-Plage is located just 15 km from the city of Narbonne on the Mediterranean coast.
THE CONSTRUCTION and the early days
Narbonne-Plage
In 1948, the development of five kilometers of Mediterranean coastline began, with the aim of creating the seaside resort named Narbonne-Plage by Louis Madaule. Mr. Madaule was the Mayor of the city of Narbonne at that time.
Just around fifteen kilometers east of the Roman city of Narbonne, the resort gradually took shape under the guidance of the city engineer, Mr. René Funel.
He established the harbor where it stands today, after multiple studies to determine the best location.
A triangular-shaped harbor was created, dug out with a NORDEST mechanical excavator. It was only once it reached the sea that the workers realized the water might flood the previously cleared area unless a barrier was quickly built.
Coastal development was necessary and carried out by the DACA company, still based in Narbonne on Avenue de l’Hérault, which built huge reinforced concrete piles with a sliding slope.
It was necessary to drive the reinforced concrete piles into the ground before sliding in the slabs. However, this presented a major physical challenge: how could the piles be driven in without breaking them? Fortunately, engineer Mr. Funel had a brilliant idea while watching children play in the sand. They were using a watering can filled with water to insert a stick into the hard sand and make their game easier. For the observant engineer, the solution was obvious: he called on the Narbonne firefighters, whose powerful fire hoses could dislodge the sand and help the piles penetrate the sandy ground. The principle worked, but the number of fire hoses needed at the start of the project had been underestimated.
A legend says that Belgian investors in 1942–1943, when everything still had to be done in Narbonne-Plage, wanted this place to become a copy of what could be seen on the French Riviera.
Narbonne-Plage
Why come to Narbonne-Plage
Fütterer Property has selected the must-do activities for you if you are coming to Narbonne-Plage.
Narbonne-Plage offers a wide range of activities for visitors of all ages. The resort’s main attraction is of course its fine sandy beach stretching over more than 5 km, offering plenty of opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxation.
Private beaches are set up during the summer season, offering double or single sun loungers, canopy beds, and parasols so you can fully enjoy the Mediterranean while sipping a cocktail or enjoying tapas made with local products, as offered by Gérard Bertrand’s Hospitalet Beach.
In addition to the beach, water activities are very popular.
Holidaymakers can take younger children, older children, and even teenagers to the Aquajet park.
Between Narbonne-Plage and Les Ayguades, this park is located on the beach. It is a place with real advantages for families, where both children and adults can enjoy discovering the many water games as well as the water slides. Some slides can accommodate up to 4 people at the same time, a great opportunity to create wonderful memories with family or friends.
For even more thrills, a water jump was recently added to the park with 6 ramps at heights of 8, 10, and 12 meters. This attraction is open to those aged 10 and over.
All attractions are supervised by lifeguards, so children can move freely between the paddling pool, the large swimming pool (maximum depth 1.20 m), dry play areas, inflatable games, and trampolines. For parents, sun loungers are available free of charge, and a snack bar is on hand to recharge your batteries.
Would you like to relax while taking care of yourself? The solution is at Fish Spa, where the concept is simple: you do nothing, and the Garra Rufa do the work.
Who are the Garra Rufa? They are small fish with no teeth that take care of your feet using tiny suction movements. You will find the spa on Boulevard de la Méditerranée, not far from the tobacconist and the many ice cream shops and snack bars...
The Garra Rufa is also called the freshwater doctor fish, originally from the Kangal region in Turkey. These fish are known for their therapeutic use and have earned the title of “doctor” for their effectiveness in cleaning wounds caused by skin conditions. They are able to remove dead skin while encouraging the production of new cells.
Want to have fun with the typical wind of our region?
Zefcontrol offers eco-friendly activities practiced outdoors in a natural setting on Créneau Naturel beach. This wild beach is the westernmost beach of the resort, and it is supervised in summer (lifeguard station no. 4, near the Aquajet water park).
Créneau Naturel beach stretches for 1.6 kilometers in length and up to 300 meters in width, providing enough space for land sailing, a rare activity in the area since it originated in northern France and is not widely available on our Aude beaches.
Land sailing is a sport that involves moving across the beach in a wheeled craft powered and guided by a sail. Stand-up paddleboarding is another activity offered by Zefcontrol, where the aim is to move across the water while standing on a board using a paddle.
Also worth trying are kayaking and power kiting, offered in the same place as the previously mentioned sports. Enough to guarantee an active holiday in close contact with nature.
For those who prefer land-based activities, Narbonne-Plage has a cycle path running from Mandirac to Saint-Pierre-La-Mer, passing through Gruissan. “La Littorale” covers 33 kilometers along the Aude coastline. Discover at your own pace the natural beauty of the Narbonnaise en Méditerranée Regional Natural Park.
Hiking enthusiasts can also enjoy the trails of the Sainte-Lucie and La Clape nature reserves.
In short, whether you are looking for sports activities, family leisure, or simply relaxing moments on the beach, Narbonne-Plage has something to satisfy every taste.
Between sea and mountains
Narbonne-Plage
Narbonne-Plage is part of the city of Narbonne, a sub-prefecture of the Aude department in Occitanie, just 80 km from the Spanish border. Narbonne is the most populated city in the department. Occitanie offers an impressive variety of landscapes, ranging from the Pyrenees mountains to the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the plains of Lauragais and the Massif Central. Narbonne-Plage is a charming seaside resort on the Côte du Midi, popular with tourists since the beginning of its development in 1948.
Narbonne-Plage
Narbonne’s gateway to the sea
Narbonne, nestled between the Corbières and Minervois massifs and the sea, is a pleasant human-sized city that enjoys a privileged location in the heart of the Narbonnaise en Méditerranée Regional Natural Park. Stretching along the sea and crossed by the Canal de la Robine, the Narbonnaise Regional Natural Park features lagoons and marshes where wildlife and flora are very present. The city of Narbonne is also crossed by the Canal de la Robine, the waterway linking the Canal du Midi to the sea. Narbonne-Plage is Narbonne’s gateway to the sea. Developed from the 1950s onward at the initiative of Louis Madaule in order to enhance this beautiful coastline, the resort of Narbonne-Plage has managed to preserve its family spirit and remain human-sized.
To reach Narbonne-Plage from the Autoroute du Soleil, take motorway exit no. 37 (NARBONNE-EST), then follow the magnificent Route de la Clape winding through estates, vineyards, and pine forests, and thanks to its rugged relief rising to 216 meters, it offers breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the undeniable attraction of the sea, it is this Clape massif, a former island in Roman times, that gives irresistible charm to the three Narbonne coastal resorts: Narbonne-Plage, Gruissan, and Saint-Pierre-la-Mer. The pine forests and scrubland of La Clape are dotted with old limestone houses, wine estates, ruins, and riding farms. The Clape massif invites you to hike, climb, enjoy horseback rides, and offers many tasting opportunities with its 28 wine estates benefiting from the AOP La Clape designation. Many surprises await hikers who choose to explore its steep trails. The Massif de la Clape is a paradise for family hiking, mountain biking, or all-terrain electric scooter rides to discover this protected natural area with its garrigue scents!
Narbonne-Plage
For a seafront holiday rental
With its immense fine sandy beach stretching 5 km long, 150 m wide, and a shallow sea near the shore, Narbonne-Plage delights both young and old! A wide pedestrian promenade with cycle paths promises lovely family walks by the sea. As you stroll along the beachfront, you will see many beach houses and charming small residences, the result of the resort’s gradual development from the 1950s onward into the family-friendly resort we know today. Large pergolas sheltering benches allow you to admire the beach with the Mediterranean in the background. Narbonne-Plage’s small marina offers the possibility of launching your boat with a slipway or using the harbor crane for those who wish to come with their own boat.
On the beach, which is freely accessible along its entire length and benefits from free parking, sunbed rentals are available for those who want them. Pedal boat and jet ski rentals are available for the more active. Narbonne-Plage’s human scale allows all summer visitors to stay less than one kilometer from the beach, whether they are staying in small residences of individual houses, apartment buildings of all sizes, or one of the resort’s hotels. Your car can stay in the garage or in the parking lot for the entire stay.
The resort’s shops, restaurants, and ice cream parlors are within walking distance from everywhere. In summer, a market is held on the seafront promenade three times a week. The seaside resort of Narbonne-Plage can be enjoyed all year round. Essential everyday shops such as grocery stores, bakeries, the tobacconist, the post office, the bank, bars, and the pharmacy, to name just a few, remain open year-round for residents and visitors alike.
If you are looking for a break, to recharge your batteries, to be close to nature while enjoying all conveniences, to spend time with family, friends, or as a couple just for a change of scenery, to enjoy peace and quiet, or to experience one of the most beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean, Narbonne-Plage is made for you !