https://www.limouxin-tourisme.com/pratique/brochures/
Welcome to the Limouxin
Meet the wine growers :
Here, the art of living is present through gastronomy. Aperitif cakes, peculiar by its twisted dough, with pepper and nicely golden, are delicious with Crémant, Blanquette and Chardonnay. At meal time, the fricassee of Limoux, is a part of the cultural and regional traditions. Convivial course, this pork stew is served with white beans, and slowly cooked with bacon. For a dessert, the Limòs , a brioche, filled with pastry cream and candied fruit , or St Martin cake with apple compote and dried white grape macerated in rum. With a cup of coffee the white nugat is a piece of pure pleasure and the Limouxin sweet par excellence and « Taps » are a cork-shaped chocolates filled with the finest Marc of Blanquette liqueur.
Shops not to miss :
www.saint-hilaireaude.fr / Phone: +33 4 68 69 62 76.
www.aletlesbains.com / Phone:+33 4 68 69 93 56.
www.rennes-le-chateau.fr / Phone:+33 4 68 31 38 85.
The medieval castle, standing on an isolated mound, consists of a rectangular bailey with a Gothic gateway and an elegant keep. Its golden stone and its imposing tower 25 meters high make it a major piece of Gothic architecture. Now restored, it reflects the experience of the medieval times.
www.arques.wixsite.com / Phone:+33 4 68 69 84 77
www.limoux.fr / Phone:+ 33 9 63 68 34 54
Phone:+33 6 70 39 01 74
www.dinosauria.org / Phone: +33 4 68 74 26 88
TO EXPLORE:
The Limouxin is the gateway to the Pyrenees, its hillside vineyards and gorges reflecting the diversity of its landscapes and invite to discover a preserved nature. What to do in the Limouxin? Hiking, cycling, mountain-biking, canyoning, canoeing, horse riding and relaxing in thermal hot spring water!
There are plenty of walks across the country to enjoy. Maps and leaflets are available at the Tourism Information Centers in Limoux, Couiza, Rennes les Bains.
On the edge of the Pyrenean mountains, the Limouxin offers atmosphere, originality and warm welcome. In this place where man and nature meet, an exceptional natural and historic heritage create a destination which promises many activities and experiences.
Come and enjoy a sparkling wine experience
The Limouxin is known for its Blanquette, the world’s oldest sparkling wine, and for the quality of its vineyards and wine cellars. Although Blanquette et Crémant reign supreme in the area, the still white and red wines were officially recognized as PDO (Protected Designation of Origin).
The Limouxin is also renowned for its rich soil and wealth of its produce. This is a region of family farms and vineyards, where food is a serious matter. The restaurants and the country inns, all offer local menus and quality food: cold meats, Limoux fricassee, local fruit juice, nougat, chocolate ….
This varied food and vines are made with loving care and respect. The local producers with a passion for their work and region, are driven by the common wish to give pleasure with beautifully tasty local products.
Here everything sparkles. The festive season starts with the longest Carnival in the world. The population gathers on the Place de la République as early as mid-January to celebrate the Carnival and have fun until mid-March when the event ends with Blanquette Night.
The festive world of Limouxin however doesn’t end with the Carnival. There are over 250 festive days here. In the spring Toques et Clochers- a popular event brings together winegrowers, local inhabitants and tourist and celibates their regional heritage. At the end of April, the Limoux Brass Festival programs musicians and concerts specializing in copper instruments. Finally, in October, the Festival des Bulles Sonores ,so-called in reference to the local wine, showcase some twenty concerts over three days, giving pride of place to current music .
Discover the Limouxin most fascinating and delightful places
Here, the valleys, hills and villages tell their stories…. The abbeys, Alet les Bains, Saint Hilaire and Rieunette and the Arques Castle are unique heritage sites. The hill top village of Rennes le Chateau has generated intrigue and mystery world-wide.
The spectacular site of the "Gorges de Galamus" deep and colossal ravine, formed by the Agly river, is full of natural riches. The Peak of Bugarach rises to 1230 meters and provides a fantastic day walking and climbing, enjoying the natural beauty of the region. The tiny Spa-town - Rennes les Bains offers hot and cold springs, long renowned for their therapeutic qualities.
TO TASTE :
In 2018, the Limouxin winegrowing region has been awarded the National Vignobles & Découvertes -a wine region steeped in history and legend, label. This certification, promotes wine-based tourism and distinguishes destinations which offer complete vineyard-based stays that include accommodations, food, cellar discoveries, visits to cultural sites, leisure activities, events and discovery of natural sites. The aim is to improve how tourists are welcomed to the region and to ensure their experiences are rich and unforgettable.
Meet the wine growers :
- Château Rives Blanques - Cépie. www.rives-blanques.com - +33 4 68 31 43 20
- Domaine J.Laurens - La Digne d’Aval www.jlaurens.fr - +33 4 68 31 54 54
- Anne de Joyeuse - Limoux, Saint Hilaire et Montazel. www.annedejoyeuse.fr - +33 4 68 74 79 49
- Maison Guinot - Limoux. www.bullesetlumieres.fr +33 4 68 31 01 33
- Cave du Sieur d’Arques – Limoux www.sieurdarques.com - + 33 4 68 74 63 45
- Domaine d’Alon – Magrie www.alaincavailles.com - + 33 6 86 20 06
- Domaine Saint Jacques – Montazels www.blanquettte-saintjacques.com -+33 4 68 74 04 02
- Domaine de Fourn - Pieusse +33 4 68 31 77 65
- Domaine Baronarques - Saint Polycarpe www.domaine-de-baronarques.com - + 33 4 68 31 94 66
Here, the art of living is present through gastronomy. Aperitif cakes, peculiar by its twisted dough, with pepper and nicely golden, are delicious with Crémant, Blanquette and Chardonnay. At meal time, the fricassee of Limoux, is a part of the cultural and regional traditions. Convivial course, this pork stew is served with white beans, and slowly cooked with bacon. For a dessert, the Limòs , a brioche, filled with pastry cream and candied fruit , or St Martin cake with apple compote and dried white grape macerated in rum. With a cup of coffee the white nugat is a piece of pure pleasure and the Limouxin sweet par excellence and « Taps » are a cork-shaped chocolates filled with the finest Marc of Blanquette liqueur.- Pâtisserie Pujolat-Serrat-Limoux , www.pujola-serrat.com, +33 4 68 31 02 09
- Nougat Bor - Limoux, www.maison-bor.com, +33 4 68 31 02 15
- Nougalet - Luc sur Aude, www.nougalet.com , +33 4 68 74 02 63
TO VISIT:
ABBEY OF ST.HILAIRE
Abbey at St.Hilare is an ancient fortified abbey, noted for its Romanesque abbey church, which opens onto a 14th century cloister. Emerging from vineyards, the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Hilaire is located in the picturesque valley of the Lauquet and it is the birthplace of Blanquette.
www.saint-hilaireaude.fr / Phone: +33 4 68 69 62 76.
ABBEY OF ALET-LES-BAINS
The Abbey of Alet in the Aude Valley is located in the typical medieval village. Built in the ninth century, it is a magnificent example of the rich history of this area. The abbey within the walls of the city was destroyed during the religious wars and it remains today as imposing remains.
www.aletlesbains.com / Phone:+33 4 68 69 93 56.
ABBE SAUNIERE’S ESTATE - RENNES LE CHATEAU
Perched on a hilltop, Rennes-le-Château is cloaked in mysteries that have yet to be explained… the extraordinary story of Father Bérenger Saunière, who found a fabulous treasure and came across great wealth. Readers of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci code will be interested to visit this site.www.rennes-le-chateau.fr / Phone:+33 4 68 31 38 85.
THE CHATEAU D’ARQUES
The medieval castle, standing on an isolated mound, consists of a rectangular bailey with a Gothic gateway and an elegant keep. Its golden stone and its imposing tower 25 meters high make it a major piece of Gothic architecture. Now restored, it reflects the experience of the medieval times.
www.arques.wixsite.com / Phone:+33 4 68 69 84 77
PETIET MUSEUM IN LIMOUX
The exhibition displayed the academic art of the second half of the 19th century. The work of
Marie Petiet, who founded the museum is worthy to see for the beauty of her delicate painting depicting daily live in Limouxin.
www.limoux.fr / Phone:+ 33 9 63 68 34 54
MUSEUM OF AUTOMATA IN LIMOUX
The museum displays hundreds of automata, all fabulously attired in Venetian style costumes and masks, and eerily moving their heads and arms.Phone:+33 6 70 39 01 74
DINOSAUR MUSEUM
The dinosaur museum in Espéraza displays an exhibition of fossil and dinosaurs models as well as reconstructed skeletons of dinosaurs living in the area 70 million years ago.www.dinosauria.org / Phone: +33 4 68 74 26 88
TO EXPLORE:
The Limouxin is the gateway to the Pyrenees, its hillside vineyards and gorges reflecting the diversity of its landscapes and invite to discover a preserved nature. What to do in the Limouxin? Hiking, cycling, mountain-biking, canyoning, canoeing, horse riding and relaxing in thermal hot spring water!
There are plenty of walks across the country to enjoy. Maps and leaflets are available at the Tourism Information Centers in Limoux, Couiza, Rennes les Bains.
THE GORGES OF GALAMUS
It is the Agly, a small river coming from the Pech of Bugarach, which dug this deep cut tens of meters into the rock. The road that crosses the gorge, is very narrow and leads to the Hermitage Saint Antoine, clinging to the vertical rock face. The Galamus canyon is ideal for a first-time canyoning adventure.
THE PEAK OF BUGARACH
The Peak of Bugarach (Pech Bugarach in Occitan) rises to 1230 meters and provides a fantastic days walking and climbing enjoying the natural beauty of the region. The village itself is famed for an ancient prophecy which claimed the village would be the only place on earth left standing when the world ended on 21 December 2012.
At Vulture Observatory near Bugarach, griffon vultures are fed and can be seen. This observatory was converted in the heart of a sensitive natural zone. It is furnished of several information panels which describes vultures in their natural habitat. A photographic exhibition in the town is dedicated to these birds.
THE SALT-WATER SPRING
Near Sougraigne, a source of salmon-pink salt water gives birth to the river Sals. The site was formerly frequented by many different characters: glass makers, jet miners, charcoal burners, wood cutters, shepherds, peasant farmers and the salt smugglers. The path “Entre sel et verre”, equipped with information signs and picnic spaces, offers an easy and pleasurable forest walk to discover the history of the area.
THE RED LANDS
Called the “El Dorado of Corbières”, the Red Lands between Serres and Peyrolles, offer a wide variety of landscapes: rivers, forests, viewpoints, vineyards, castle, bridge, red marl. The picturesquely eroded red lands form a succession of small canyons. It is in this type of marl that dinosaur eggs are found as well as many other fossils.
