43º19N 2º90E, pop (2002e) 46 800. Town in Aude department, Languedoc region, S France; located near to the Spanish border; in Roman times it was a thriving Mediterranean port, but is now located inland from the sea; the Canal de Robine (which joins the Canal de Midi) runs through the town centre; centre of local wine trade, serving the wine areas of Corbieres, Minervois, St Chinian, Fitou; birthplace of Joe Bousquet.
| Commune of Narbonne | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 43°11′08″N, 03°00′15″E |
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Région | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Département | Aude (sous-préfecture) |
| Arrondissement | Narbonne |
| Canton | Chief town of 3 cantons |
| Intercommunality |
Communauté d'agglomération de la Narbonnaise |
| Mayor | Michel Moynier |
| Statistics | |
| Altitude | 0–285 |
| Land area¹ | 172.96 km² |
|
Population² (1999) |
46,510 |
| - Density (1999) | 268.9/km² |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 11262/ 11100 |
| ¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > | |
| ² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. | |
Narbonne (Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, commonly Narbo especially when referring to the Ancient Rome era) is a town and commune of southwestern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon région.
Geography
Narbonne is linked to the nearby Canal du Midi and the Aude River by the Canal de la Robine, which runs through the centre of town. Over time as the Aude river fluctuated in flow, direction and sediment, and as the Mediterranean sea level slowly rose the 'sea port' aspect of Narbonne declined due to relentless silting, and could thus no longer serve directly as a port.
From the 16th century, anxious to maintain a link to important trade, the people of Narbonne began costly work to the vestiges of the Aude River's access to the sea so that it would remain navigable to a limited draft of vessel and also a link with the Royal Canal.
Hence, despite its decline from Roman times, Narbonne managed to hold on to a more limited importance as a trading route, particularly through the more recent centuries. The Roman Horreum, a former 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 Halles de Narbonne covered market operates every day. Narbonne's rugby team, Racing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée
User Comments Add a comment…