Minervois
The Minervois is always different: plane and sea, heath and mountains, and never ending vineyards. Grapes have been cultivated in the Minervois since the age of the Gallo-Romans. Today Minervois is the most famous wine-growing area of the Languedoc-Roussillon in the south of France. But there is much more to discover than wine: prehestorical grottos, countless Roman churches, the abbey of Caunes near Rieux-Minervois, beautiful villages along the Canal du Midi.??
Whether walking or riding a bike alongside it, gazing up to the clouds while lazing on the deck of a canal boat while it winds its way along its tranquil path, picnicking on its banks, or enjoying the pleasure of a Minervois wine in one of its many restaurants, the Canal du Midi offers an escape into tranquility and aesthetic beauty.
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In the 17th century, with only shovels, over 12 000 men made possible the seemingly impossible dream of Pierre-Paul Riquet, to create a waterway that would link the Mediterranean and Atlantic seas. The 360km stretch of water, which is the Canal du Midi encompasses over 300 structures. It is a navigable route incorporating aqueducts, bridges (two of which are canal bridges which cross the rivers of the Cesse and Répundre), tunnels, paths for horses to pull boats, resting areas for travelers and animals and most importantly 156 locks, many of which have become tourist stops and promenades today.
The canal, a sacred path, marvelous under its foliage of high plane trees, has allowed generations of locals to export more easily their products, most importantly their wine! Nowadays, the Canal du Midi stands as not only an engineering masterpiece but also a beautiful work of art, appreciated by locals and tourists alike.
The Minervois belongs to both the Departments Aude and Hèrault, with its 68 communities being the smallest administrative region of France ?Nowadays Minervois is the wine-growing region number one of Languedoc-Roussillon; first of all due to the seven communities producing A.O.C. wines, with the best of it being Pic de Loup in Hérault. ??Still nowadays Minervois is a land of vineyards and agriculture, with a splendid landscape and beautiful villages and small cities along the Canal du Midi. Tourism is nowadays if utmost importance for the Minervois and the landscape offers everything to attract visitors.
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