Meander through picturesque villages and discover wines to savour; explore some fascinating historic sites; enjoy stunning walking routes; or see more of the area by cycle or kayak. All within 10 miles of Azille.

Minervois villages

La Livinière, Siran, Pepieux, Puichéric, Rieux-Minervois and Cesseras all provide a good feel for French village life today and in centuries past. Rieux-Minervois has an unusual 12th century heptagonal church with some interesting Romanesque sculptures while Siran has two churches. The route to Siran makes for a lovely cycle ride. Puichéric lies on the Canal du Midi, with two locks nearby; the Ecluse d’Aiguille is an excellent place to see a lock in action and has some entertaining sculptures. Peyriac-Minervois has Les Bains de Minerve – a swimming pool with a retractable roof.

Visit the wineries at Azillanet, Cesseras, Félines-Minervois, La Livinière and Siran, which – together with Azille itself – form the AOC Minervois-La Livinière and produce some of the best red wines in the region. Clos Centeilles in Siran is perhaps the best known of these wineries. All are in lovely vine-covered countryside and are 2.5-6 miles from Azille.

Pepieux
Les Meulières restaurant La Livinière
Rieux Minervois

Dolmen des Fade

Close to Pepieux, set amidst the pines, you will find the Dolmen des Fades (literally ‘the dolmen of the fairies’). The largest megalithic tomb in the south of France, with a 24m stone gallery, it dates back to 5,000 BC.  You can wander through the ancient stones at will and enjoy good views of the surrounding countryside. 4 miles from Azille.

Canoeing on the Aude

Another way to see the area is from the water and it’s a delight to kayak along the River Aude. Both independent hire and supervised sessions can be booked at Eaurizon in the centre of Puichéric. For the more adventurous, white-water rafting and canyoning (at other locations) can be also be organised here. 6 miles from Azille.

Caunes-Minervois

Nestled at the foot of the Montagne Noire, this medieval village has a fascinating abbey, founded in the 8th century. Take time to wander the narrow streets – two ancient public laundries, fed by streams, are still to be seen. There are some excellent marked walking trails leading from and to the village. 9 miles from Azille.

Caunes Marble

You can walk through or hike around the old marble quarry, just a short distance from the town of Caunes Minervois. Worked since Roman times, it provided marble for the Grand Trianon at Versailles and for the Paris Opera House. The nearby chapel of Nôtre Dame du Clos makes good use of this stunning red marble and is open to visitors. You’ll find shops selling marble souvenirs in the town itself. 9 miles from Azille.

Minerve

This fortress village lies in a stunning location and is rich in history. Discover its Cathar past and explore the caves along the old river bed.  There are also amazing walks from the village – though some may challenge your nerve and agility!  You’ll also find some lovely restaurants with great views, plus a few interesting shops and galleries. There’s a small museum which tells the story of the crusades using models arranged in a series of set pieces and also a poignant monument to those who lost their lives when Minerve fell to its besiegers in 1210. Not to be missed. 10 miles from Azille.

Walking and cycling

Follow the Canal du Midi on foot or on a bike; or explore the local area by bike. The roads are quiet with excellent visibility and it is customary in France for drivers to treat cyclists with consideration. The route up to the village of Siran makes for a lovely cycle and there are stunning walks from Minerve and Caunes Minervois. The scenery here, a little more towards the Montagne Noire, is already very different to the rolling vineyards around Azille.