MEDIEVAL ROUTE THROUGH THE MINERVOIS VINEYARD

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Cruzy: Between vineyards and the Canal du Midi! Formerly known as Crozatum, Curcium, Curcy, Crusi, and finally... Cruzy! So many names for this former medieval castrum of the wine-producing plain located 25 km west of Béziers... Surrounded by vineyards, hills, pine forest, and very close to the peaceful Canal du Midi, a nice record for this picturesque village which was a dependency of the Abbey of Saint-Chinian around the 9th century, then of Quarante in the 11th century. A discovery? Quick, quick, quick! It all starts at Place de la République, where you will leave your vehicle in the shade of the plane trees. Enter Rue de la Poste - this is where the old town begins with vaulted passages and historic stone house facades showcasing all periods. Continue your stroll to the old feudal castle, former property of the viscounts of Narbonne, passing through Place Salengro. The highlight of the visit is coming soon... with the fortified church of Sainte-Eulalie de Mérida (12th-15th centuries). Romanesque then Gothic in style, it was fortified in the 15th century with machicolations, crenellated turrets, and loopholes. Flanked by three chapels, an imposing bell tower, and medieval stained glass in its choir, the building is remarkable, and so is its furniture. A tip? Pass beneath the haughty gaze of its gargoyles and make a full tour around the building not to miss anything! The Cruzy Museum, famous worldwide!: it houses remains found in the municipality, from eggs or fossilized dinosaur bones (including a 90 cm Titanosaur femur), to 17th-18th century pottery recovered from the village well (1.5 tons of pottery shards), and also 4 banners made for wine festivals in 1907. An exceptional museum with international reach! Marie-Coquette Gorge: Starting from the village, along an ancient Roman road, this hiking trail will guide you through the majesty of the Marie-Coquette rocks and the splendor of the Marie-Close gorge. A magical, wild, and enchanting place in the heart of a deep gorge, well deserving its name "end of the world." A family 3-hour loop with low elevation gain just as we like. Want to cycle? Created on the path of an old railway line, the Camin'Arts Greenway (11 km) connects Capestang, on the Canal du Midi, to the old Cruzy station now turned into the Le Terminus restaurant. Punctuated with surprising sculptures, the route allows you to discover early 20th-century railway built heritage (small rural stations, gatekeeper's houses, bridges, aqueducts). Sériège, castle and vineyard estate: Extravagance of Languedoc architectural heritage in the Cruzy municipality, the Château de Sériège, owned until the 13th century by the viscounts of Narbonne and now property of the d'Andoque family, is well worth the visit. A stop will allow you to discover the wines of its estate at the crossroads of the Saint-Chinian and Minervois appellations.

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Montouliers: The cobblestone village! From a wine plain to a hill dotted with olive trees and surrounded by vineyards, just a few kilometers to travel and you have arrived at Montouliers, the mount of olive trees or pottery! This former lordship dependent on the abbey and lords of Saint-Pons-de-Thomières has retained the look of the medieval castrum mentioned as early as 1182. At its summit stand its 14th-century castle, partially destroyed but demonstrating its defensive role by its position, and the Saint-Baudile church dating from the Carolingian period and probably rebuilt in the 12th century. Its square bell tower? Recognizable among a thousand! Its Romanesque altar and the Gothic statue of its saint classified as a Historic Monument are particular attractions. But if there is an even more remarkable medieval curiosity in the heart of the old village, it is its famous "calades"! What is that? Beautiful steep alleys paved with pebbles of varied sizes, shapes, and colors. A rustic mosaic with crazy charm, believe us. Our recommendation? Swap your heels for a pair of comfortable sneakers. Exceptional 360° panorama: From the top of the Montouliers hill and the summit of its church bell tower, the view is magnificent. From the Narbonnais mountains to the Minervois, passing by the Canal du Midi and the vineyard, it is a feast for the eyes! Did you know? At the village exit, a Roman fountain is said to have been dug into the rock by a legion of Julius Caesar. A 200 m tunnel carries water to a trough beneath a vault, also carved from rock. Unusual! Looking for a surprising discovery? Be sure to stop at the Wood Lace Cathedral, a former wine cellar rehabilitated by artist Daniel Toucheteau into a workshop and living space giving the illusion of a cathedral. This architectural work composed of countless wooden pieces is fascinating!

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Aigne: The "snail" village! The continuation of your bushy escape through the Minervois vineyard? Certainly, Aigne, a medieval circulade nestled between vineyards, woods, and scrubland animated by ridges and hills. Its sweet nickname is lo cagarol, the snail in Occitan... And rightly so, the heart of this former lordship under the dependency of the viscounts of Minerve in the Middle Ages includes a single street spiraling around the Romanesque Saint-Martin church from the 11th century. A rare and remarkable testimony to medieval ingenuity in defense and urban planning! A revelation? Well, this spiral shape slowed down and disoriented attackers, thus protecting the inhabitants. The thick walls of the fortified town did not, however, keep it safe from the upheavals of history. At the beginning of the 13th century, Aigne’s stronghold passed into the hands of Simon de Montfort during the Albigensian Crusade... A small circulade, brief visit, but fascinating. Where to enter? The fortified gate, of course! The only access, it opens onto narrow and cool alleys in summer that converge towards the central square and the church. Must-sees! Keep an eye out - haylofts, dovecotes, rings, wells are scattered here and there, traces of village life of yesteryear. Time to eat! The weather is nice and you are in Aigne at lunchtime? Take a seat on the terrace of the restaurant Lo Cagarol. The local cuisine is tasty, menus are regularly renewed, and the atmosphere is friendly. Their specialty, the cargolade with marrow! Surprised? Vineyard experience: As you understand, you are in vineyard country. So, enhance your medieval getaway with an oenotouristic experience! We invite you to discover the Naturo-Culture® vines of La Prade Mari estate in Aigne. Then, enjoy tasting and maybe buying some organic wine bottles to continue savoring the Minervois AOP at home...

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La Caunette: Sheltered beneath the cliff! Only 4 km from Aigne, towards Minerve, a former defense outpost of the castle of the lords of Minerve welcomes you, La Caunette. Discreet, sheltered under a limestone cliff and at the foot of the river La Cesse... Former fortified village of character, but here, no more castle in its historic heart called Carambelle ("the beautiful stones")! Never mind, there are many other medieval remains to discover... For example, a beautiful tower-gate in the shape of a square tower topped with machicolations and loopholes attesting to defensive architecture from the 14th to 16th centuries. Or the Romanesque church Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption from the 11th and 12th centuries, built on an old Visigoth sanctuary. Our advice? Take time to stroll the winding and steep alleys of Carambelle and linger on its small squares. The atmosphere is so relaxed. Our recommendations: Where to eat well? At the restaurant La Cave. Its homemade cuisine is delicious. Where to taste biodynamic wines? At Château Coupe-Roses in the Minervois AOP appellation. Where to stay in a guest room? At La Maison Mirava. Its 80 m2 rooftop with jacuzzi and vineyard view is very pleasant.

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Minerve: The captivating Cathar city! Touring Minervois without visiting Minerve, THE Cathar city? Unthinkable! Already, arriving in this Most Beautiful Village of France, you face a rocky promontory surrounded by the steep gorges of the Cesse and Brian rivers that meet here. A medieval village built on a peninsula amid rocks and vineyards... The most beautiful entrance? For us, it is through the lower gate (13th century) and the remains of the ramparts, passing by the Saint-Rustique well under the threatening gaze of "La Malvoisine," a reproduction of a trebuchet. Continue the walk through the cobbled streets to the stele dedicated to Cathars condemned to the stake, the Dove of Light, then to the foot of the Candela, the last octagonal remains of the 13th-century medieval castle. At every step, history becomes more present... Its most striking episode? That of the siege of 1210! The Crusade against the Albigensians, recalled in the Hurepel Museum, was launched to make the Occitan lords respect the Roman faith and eradicate Catharism. Minerve endured a 5-week siege. Deprived of water and bombarded from all sides, the "Perfects" of Minerve had to surrender and choose between abjuring their faith or being burned alive. Only 3 from Minerve recanted. The other inhabitants were condemned to the stake... What is Catharism? A dissident medieval Christian religious movement from the Roman Church, it considers God inaccessible and absent from this world. For the Cathars, all sacraments established by the Roman Church have no value. They opposed private property, war, and feudalism. Opposition to the Roman Church led to the Albigensian Crusade and the eradication of Catharism.

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Tourist Office of the Canal du Midi in Saint Chinian