The
département is named after the River
Aude, which flows through it north from the Pyrenees
to Carcassonne
and then east to the Mediterranean
Sea. It is divided into 3 arrondissements: Carcassonne
, Limoux
and Narbonne.
There are 34 cantons, of which 29 are separate towns.
The departmental number of the Aude (which you will find encoded in French numbers — eg telephone numbers, post codes and numbers on motor car vehicle registration plates) is 11.
In 1790, the département of Aude was formed from the eastern part of the old province of Languedoc. Carcassonne, the Aude département's capital, contains a picturesque citadel (Cité of Carcassonne) with its restored medieval fortifications and buildings, including the Castle of the Viscounts of Carcassonne (the Château Comtal). Today, the Aude département markets itself to tourists at Le Pays Cathare - Cathar Country and with some reason. This area contains half a dozen so called "Cathar Castles" with many others dotted around its landward borders.
On the east, the Aude département boarders the Gulf of Lyon. To the south lies the département of Pyrénées-Orientales. To the west are the départements of Haute-Garonne and Ariège. To the north is the département of Tarn; the département of Hérault is to the northeast. Most of the Aude département is drained by the Aude River basin.
Cities: Carcassonne (capital of the Aude), Narbonne
Towns: Castelnaudary, Espéraza , Lagrasse, Lavalette, Leucat, Lezignan-Corbieres, Limoux, Montredon-des des-Corbières, La Redorte, Quillan, Trebes.
Villages: Alet-les-Bains , Rennes-le-Château
Ports: Gruissan, Sigean
Attractions: Cathar Castles (Arques, Aguila, Bram, Lastours, Puilaurens, Termes), Limoux Carnival, Via Domitia, Fontfroide Abbey, Lagrasse Abbey, Saint-Papoul Abbey, Saint-Hilaire Abbey, Alet-les-Bains Abbey
Tourist offices: Click here.
Click on the following for Naturist Beaches, Resorts and Clubs in the Aude Départment
Click on the following for Museums in the Aude Départment
Click on the following for Caves and Grottos in the Aude Départment
Click on the following for Menhirs, Dolmens and Megaliths in the Aude Départment
Click on the following for Golf Courses in the Aude
Click on the following link to find out What's
on in the Aude .
