Narbonne was founded in the 7th century BC on the Montlaures hills 4km away from the present city.
The Roman Senate installed it's first colony outside of Italy about one century BC. Narbonne therefore became the first Roman city among the Gauls.
Narbonne experienced a prosperous period during 1st century ; the Romans made it one of the most important mediterranean ports.
Narbonne suffered barbaric invasions during the 4th and 5th centuries.
It was occupied by the Visigoths from the 5th to the 7th centuries. It was Pépin le bref who re-built it in 769. The city regains a period of prosperity during the Middle-Ages.

At the end of the 14th century , the silting up of the harbor , the effects of the war of Hundred Years and the great epidemics drag Narbonne into a long and unproductive period The construction of the rail-way and other develpements in the mid 19th century gave it a short-lived prosperity.
Presently Narbonne enjoys a developed tourism , diversified economic activities , and it is important as a cross-road to
Spain , Toulouse , Montpellier...