Carcassonne (1 hr) - a must, but everybody thinks it is so it's a good idea to get there in the morning. Take the signs for La Cité. When in the walls it's worth having a nose around the Hotel de la Cité, haunt of Royalty, celebs and heads of state. If you like it, you can "enjoy" the torture museum. 
    
St. Chinian (20 minuts) - in Saint Chinian you will find the Maison des Vins (avenue de la Promenade); from here excursions with different themes are being organised. There is an excursion to the local market, where you will learn all about the regional products. The Maison des Vins sells a range of Saint  Chinian wines (reds and rosés), against producer prices. 

You can also visit several domains near Saint Chinian. 

       
  Collioure (2 hrs) - impossibly pretty fishing/art village just short of the Spanish border. Lovers of seafood and especially anchovies wiII be in heaven. Every Sunday there is a brocante (second hand trade).
  
  Minerve (35 minutes) - a startling medieval village carved by converging rivers with a natural bridge beneath. An absolute MUST!
   
  Montpellier (90 minutes) - a beer or an expresso and a dose of people watching in the beautiful Place de la Comédie is worth the drive. The old quarter boasts some very nice restaurants and the ambitious modern architecture of the Antigone area is impressive. Head for underground parking at the Place de la Comédie.  
The modern architecture of the Antigone area is impressive. Head for underground parking at the Place de la Comédie.
   
  Narbonne (45 minutes) - the cathedral's impressive, the Roman remains are evocative and the canal sweeps gentIy through it but the star of this city is undoubtedly Les Halles, the indoor market. The olive bread is a particular treat. Not open Mondays.
   
  Roquebrun (35 minutes) - beautiful but popular village known as Le Petit Nice in the Haut Languedoc Nature Park.
     
  Sète (75 minutes) - if watching mad Frenchmen knocking each other off boats with long jousting poles is your cup of tea, then Sète at the weekend is the place for you. The beach is lovely too.
    
Le Somail (40 minutes) - the Canal Du Midi is one of the region's most famous sites and there are few better places to watch the boats go by than at one of the restaurants in this pretty village.