Thym

La Montagne Noire

If you want to get away from it all, the black mountains north of the village are quiet and unspoilt.  The cathar castles at Lastours are well worth a visit as is the village of Olargues, regarded as one of the most beautiful in France.  Further north the lac de la Raviège near La Salvetat sur Agoût is a beautiful spot which, being high in the mountains, can be cooler than the coastal areas at the height of summer.

Around Carcassonne

Carcassonne (37 Km) is one of the most impressive walled cities in the world.  The cité gets very busy with tourists in the summer but is still worth a visit.  At night the walls are lit and there are regular son et lumière shows.  The new town and the outskirts contain a wide range of large shops and supermarkets.  Places worth visiting close to Carcassonne include Limoux (famous for its sparkling white wine - blanquette) and Trèbes.

Narbonne & Surroundings

Narbonne, which is about the same distance from Siran, has an impressive cathedral and an excellent indoor market - les halles.  Like Carcassonne, the outskirts of the town have many shopping centres with large out of town stores.  Not far from Narbonne, the abbeys of Fontfroid and Lagrasse are well worth visiting.

Coast

The coast is less than an hour from Siran with good beaches at Narbonne-Plage, Gruissan and Valras Plage. The coastal lagoons between Narbonne and Perpignan are full of wildlife, with interesting walks and drives at places such as Peyriac de Mer and Bages.

French Catalonia (Rousillon)

 The Pyrenees mountains and the Spanish border are around 90 minutes away. The area around Perpignan is worth a visit to experience the Catalan culture. The coastal town of Collioure, made famous by artists such as Matisse, is one of the most popular tourist spots.  North of Perpignan is the  Forteresse de Salse, a Spanish Fortress which guarded the former border between Frace & Spain.

The Hérault

Béziers is well worth a visit, particularly during the annual féria.  The Cathedral is impressive and visible for miles around.  Near Béziers, the 9 locks of Fonserannes, the Oppidum d'Ensérune and the town of Pézenas, with it many antique shops, are worth visiting.  Heading further east, Montpellier, Nîmes  and the Pont du Gard are all within reach.