Lacombe: Altitude and History

Lacombe is located in the highlands of the Massif de la Montagne Noire. This setting provides the geographical starting point for understanding the destination. Alongside it, nature, the history of the Chartreuse de la Loubatière and activities on named bodies of water come to the fore. If you are looking for hotels in Lacombe, you can first consider which of these perspectives will shape your stay: an interest in nature, cultural history or outdoor activities. Nature and monastic history help put the destination in context; the activities answer a different question: what kind of outing would you like to include in your travel plans?

Nature and Setting

The ZNIEFF Forêt de la Loubatière offers a natural-history perspective. The inventory edition of June 12, 2024, lists interests in fauna and flora: birds, mammals, insects, pteridophytes and phanerogams. Fauna means animal life, while flora means plant life. Pteridophytes include ferns and related plants; phanerogams are seed plants. These technical terms refer to groups, not individual species. The groups listed therefore encompass both animal and plant life. This is a different focus from the history of the Chartreuse de la Loubatière, which centres on a specific monastery and its place in time.

The Chartreuse de la Loubatière

The Chartreuse de la Loubatière was founded around 1315 in the forest north of Lacombe; other proposed dates for its foundation also exist. As a male Carthusian monastery, it was closed in 1427. The approximate founding date and the closure dated to 1427 mark the beginning and end of the monastery’s history with different degrees of precision. The term “Chartreuse” refers to a Carthusian monastery and explains the type of monastery. The place references also serve different purposes: Lacombe is located in the highlands of the Massif de la Montagne Noire, while the Chartreuse was founded in the forest north of the village.

Walks and Waterways

At Lac de la Galaube

At Lac de la Galaube, you can walk around the lake. As conditions on site may change, check the current conditions before planning your walk. There is a bus stop, bicycle parking and picnic facilities at the picnic area by the lake. If you plan to arrive by bus, check the timetable for your visit in advance. This lets you plan the waterside activity and arrival at the picnic area separately: walking around the lake is the outing; the bus stop and bicycle parking provide information about getting there, while the picnic facilities are for taking a break.

The Rigole de la Montagne

The Rigole de la Montagne is the supply system for the Canal du Midi; the Canal is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can explore the Rigole on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. The difference is specific when choosing an activity: at Lac de la Galaube, the option is a walk, while at the Rigole you can also explore by bicycle or on horseback.

Discover more destinations: Fontiès-D'aude, Rieux-En-Val, Fanjeaux, Fraissé-Des-Corbières, Agel, La Force, Saint-Laurent-De-La-Cabrerisse, Saissac.

For the broader travel overview: Aude.