Glories of Herault in Languedoc
Photos feature (May 4 2008)
Minerve, is lovely to visit almost any time of year - though it can get a bit on the cool side over winter. The village has paid parking for the small amount of 2 euros, or for those that seek free parking - it can be found. The walk I took was from below Minerve, where there is parking by the cemetery, where one can take the roads at a reasonable incline up to the village, passing the old fashioned wash house, with the remaining tower of the castle towering above. Hungry, I stopped at Celine et Thierry's restaurant, that is just next to the old bridge - where they have decent pizzas and good salads, with a lovely terrace with views. Then following the road past the old Templars gate, with its steep cobbled road, I stopped to look at the lovely terrace of the old cafe that used to have a great swimming pool, and views over to the other side of the valley, where there is a replica of the catapult that Simon de Montfort used in his siege of the village in 1210 to destroy the well, that provided water for the village.
A walk around the village of Minerve, Herault.
(continued) The interior of the Cafe is well worth a look - as the interior is probably unchanged for 40 years, and conjures up images of visitors from days gone by. Walking from here, with its ubiquitous white vans parked outside, the road leads past various wine caves offering the great wines of the Minervois for tasting. To the left is an excellent bookshop providing coffee as well as some unique and collectable books - some dating back 100s of years. Next to it is the Tourist Office which is a mine of information, where there are lots of guide books and cards for sale. Also here is the Museum, which is good to enter, as you will see all the treasures found about, dating back to the Romans and the dawn of civilization (there are some lovely dolmens, megalithic tombs, 5 minutes drive away, with gorgeous views over the garrigue and canyons).
The village has lots of nooks to enjoy the little things of life, the miracles that nature and history unlock. Walking back towards the nose of the village, steep roads, narrow, with gates, and castle walls fall down into the river bed. Here if water is about, you can paddle in a river that runs under the hillside, through a natural bridge - there are more than one bridge - which you can follow on foot, if the river is dry or the water not too deep. Go left to the hook of the nose, where the river Brian and the river Cesse, meet. Here you can cross over the river and up a steep stairway to see how Simon de Montfort looked when he lay siege to Minerve. There is construction now, recreating where the breach took place, where the old passageways went down to the well that supplied the water to the village. The village is being reconstructed here, walls put back in place, so soon you will be able to walk in the ways of the Cathars, and the villagers of Minerve.
Look at Boat Rentals France - for a selection of boats to rent on the Canal du Midi
Or look for Languedoc houses properties for sale in the region
Herault Properties Minervois Properties Canal du Midi Properties Languedoc Properties
Or
look at Languedoc Holiday Rentals
Here is a sprinkling of holiday rentals near Minerve:
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La
Serre aux Vignes Oupia |
Sleeps 9. SWIMMING POOL, GARDEN, TERRACE. Walk to restaurant, buy well known local wine. Nr Minervois, Canal du Midi, Olonzac, Narbonne, Lezignan. | £600 $1,195 €755 |
£650 $1,295 €820 |
£1,300 $2,590 €1,640 |
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La
Caunette Nr Minerve |
Sleeps 7. SWIMMING POOL, STUNNING VIEWS. Walk to Restaurants, shop. Near Cathar village of Minerve. Close to Narbonne, Olonzac, Minervois, St Chinian wine areas. Circulade villages. | £500 $995 €630 |
£550 $1,095 €695 |
£900 $1,795 €1,135 |
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Cote
de Lavande, Villespassans |
Sleeps 2-3.. TERRACE WITH VIEWS OVER VINEYARDS. 30 mins Med. Near Minerve, St Chinian, Lovely walks, vineyards. | £250 $360 €460 |
£250 $360 €460 |
£300 $550 €435 |
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Paradis
Minervois nr Minerve, Olonzac |
Sleeps 7. SWIMMING POOL, SATELLITE TV (UK channels), GARDEN. Walk to village bakery, café, restaurant. 40 mins Mediterranean sea beaches. Near Cathar Minerve, Olonzac, Narbonne. Stunning views from pool. | email for price |
£565 $1,153 €810 |
£985 $2,015 €1,410 |
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Belle
Roubia, Canal du Midi |
Sleeps 10. SWIMMING POOL. Walk to restaurant/cafe in village. Canal du Midi near Minerve. Narbonne (shops, market, museums, beaches close) | £480 $945 €640 |
£700 $1,380 €935 |
£1,275 $2,510 €1,705 |
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Poussines, Pepieux |
Sleeps 10. SWIMMING POOL. WALK TO RESTAURANT / BAR. In Minervois, nr Carcassonne, Narbonne. 30 mins Mediterranean beaches. | £1,195 $2,495 €1,700 |
£1,195 $2,495 €1,700 |
£1,815 $3,800 €2,590 |
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Abbaye
Valiere Ste Valiere |
Sleeps 6. ROOF TERRACE, STUNNING VIEWS. Restaurants nearby. Nr Minervois, Canal du Midi, Olonzac, Minerve, Narbonne, Lezignan. | £240 $505 €350 |
£310 $650 €450 |
£515 $1,070 €740 |
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Languedoc
Gites, Olonzac |
Sleeps 4 and 6. 2 Rentals. EACH WITH ROOF TERRACE. In Olonzac, lively market, Minervois capital. Canal du Midi; swimming at Lac de Jouarres, 5 mins. (Price shown is for house sleeping 4) | £200 $380 €300 |
£270 $505 €400 |
£340 $635 €500 |
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Belle
Bize Bize Minervois |
Sleeps 6. Large rooftop terrace. Natural SWIMMING POOL!. Village has 3 restaurants, café bar, shops. 35 mins to Med. Enjoy village life to the full in this lovely apartment with large terrace, with barbecue. | £290 $575 €365 |
£350 $690 €440 |
£450 $890 €565 |
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Estival
- House Ste Valiere |
Sleeps 6-7. SWIMMING POOL. RESTAURANT IN VILLAGE. 55 mins Carcassonne. 30 mins Mediterranean. Nr Canal du Midi, Narbonne. Also Cottage - costs less - sleeps 4-5 | £250 $485 €360 |
£375 $730 €545 |
£650 $1,265 €940 |
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