Private Roman Narbonne Tour from Carcassonne or Narbonne

Discover the Roman Capital of Southern Gaul

Long before Carcassonne became a medieval fortress, Narbo Martius was one of the Roman Empire's most important cities.

Founded in 118 BC, Narbonne became the administrative capital of Gallia Narbonensis, a thriving Mediterranean port and a vital crossroads linking Italy, Spain and the rest of Gaul.

This private experience is designed for travellers who wish to explore the city's remarkable Roman heritage through its archaeological treasures, fascinating museums and historic streets, bringing the ancient world vividly back to life.

Walking Through Ancient Narbo Martius

Your day begins in the historic centre of Narbonne, where traces of the Roman city remain visible at almost every turn.

Walk along the famous section of the Via Domitia, the first Roman road built in Gaul, still preserved beneath the modern streets. Discover how Roman engineers, merchants, soldiers and citizens transformed Narbo Martius into one of the Empire's wealthiest provincial cities.

As you explore with your guide, medieval Narbonne gradually gives way to the ancient city that once stood beneath it.

The Horreum

Hidden beneath the streets lies one of Narbonne's most remarkable archaeological sites.

The Horreum, an underground Roman warehouse dating from the 1st century BC, offers a rare opportunity to walk through original Roman galleries that once stored goods arriving from across the Mediterranean.

Your guide will explain how commerce, trade and logistics made Narbo Martius one of the Roman world's great commercial centres.

Lunch at Narbo Via

Lunch is served at the restaurant of the Narbo Via Museum, offering a pleasant break before continuing your Roman journey.

Lunch is included and served from the restaurant's set menu, accompanied by local wines.

For those wishing to make the day even more special, our Gourmet Experience replaces the restaurant's set menu with the freedom to order from the à la carte menu, together with an aperitif and a wider selection of regional wines.

Narbo Via Museum

Designed by renowned architect Norman Foster, the Narbo Via Museum is one of France's finest archaeological museums.

Its spectacular collection tells the story of Narbonne from its foundation through the height of the Roman Empire.

Discover beautifully preserved mosaics, sculptures, inscriptions, everyday objects and funerary monuments that reveal how people lived, worked and worshipped nearly two thousand years ago.

One of the museum's highlights is its extraordinary monumental wall displaying hundreds of Roman stone blocks recovered from the ancient city, offering an impressive insight into the scale and sophistication of Roman Narbonne.

The Clos de la Lombarde

Subject to opening times and archaeological access, the day concludes with a visit to the remarkable Clos de la Lombarde, one of the most important Roman archaeological sites in France.

Here, you'll discover the remains of luxurious Roman townhouses decorated with mosaics, painted walls and sophisticated heating systems, providing an exceptional glimpse into daily life in ancient Narbo Martius.

When accessible, this site offers one of the most complete pictures of Roman urban life anywhere in Southern France.

More Than a Roman Tour

This is more than a museum visit.

It is a journey into one of the Roman Empire's great provincial capitals.

• Ancient roads.
• Underground warehouses.
• Magnificent archaeology.
• Remarkable museums.
• Over two thousand years of history.

By the end of the day, you'll understand why Narbonne was once one of the most important cities in the western Roman world—and why its legacy continues to shape the city today.