Narbonne (Narbona in Occitan) is a city and commune of southwestern France in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon. It lies 849km from Paris in the Aude département, of which it is a sous-préfecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about 15 kilometres from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It is linked to the nearby Canal du Midi and Aude River by the Canal de la Robine, which runs through the centre of town. Population 50,000. Postcode 11100.
History
Modern-day Narbonne was the first Roman colony outside of Italy. It was established in Gaul in 118 BC, as Colonia Narbo Martius. It was located on the via Domitia, the first Roman road in Gaul, built at the time of the foundation of the colony, and connecting Italy to Spain. At Narbonne, the via Domitia connected to the Via Aquitania, which lead toward the Atlantic across Toulouse and Bordeaux.
Later, the provincia of southern Gaul was named "Gallia Narbonensis", after the city, and Narbonne was made its capital. Seat of a powerful administration, the city enjoyed economic and architectural expansion.
It was subsequently the capital of the Visigoth province of Septimania, until the 8th century.
In the 11th and 12th centuries, Narbonne was home to an important Jewish exegetical school, which played a pivotal rôle in the growth and development of the Zarphatic (Judæo-French) and Shuadit (Judæo-Provençal) languages.
The town fell into decline in the 14th century, for a variety of reasons. It was partly due to a change in the course of the Aude River. Changes to the coastline meant that the city could no longer serve as a Mediterranean port.
Highlights
- Saint-Just cathedral dating from 1272
- The "Palais des Archevêques" or Archbishop's Palace
- The Roman Horreum, grain warehouse, built underground as a cryptoporticus
- Remains of the via Domitia in the city center
- The canal, "Canal de la Robine", running through the centre of the town
- The markets operate every day. The busiest times are Sunday and Thursday mornings.
- The nearby limestone massif known as "La Clape"
- Narbonne's rugby team, "Racing Club Narbonne Méditerranée"
Notable people from Narbonne
External links