Travel guide Aude

The manuscripts of the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of St-Hilaire, near Limoux, dating back to 1531 mention the production of a sparkling wine. This is how Blanquette de Limoux became the oldest sparkling wine in the world. The name blanquette comes from the white coloring under the leaves of the Mauzac grape variety which is its main ingredient.

Limoux has the longest carnival in the world, which takes place every Saturday and Sunday from January to April. Precise rules apply to the day's three carnival outings. The night of the Blanquette crowns the end of the festivities. On that night, the main float and its effigy of the carnival king are burn in the public square in popular jubilation.

A very codified local dish, with white beans in sauce and meat, is the pride of the people of Audois, whose origins date back to the 100 Years' War. Legend has it that during a siege of Castelnaudary by the English, the inhabitants, threatened by famine, cooked everything they had to feed the soldiers, which led to the birth of this dish.

Among the many castles of the Cathar country, the citadels were built in the ^12th century ans still stand proudly as sentinels. These fortified sites, also called "eagle's nests", dominating the valleys on steep promontories, were ideal lookout posts. They were mainly used to defend the southern border against the crown of Aragon.

The Aude is full of festivals of all kinds, which take place throughout the year. Whether it is musical, cinematographic, theatrical, oenological, gastronomic, historical, heritage or even sporting... The field of proposals is so eclectic and complete you will inevitably find a favorite among the mosaic of themes highlighted.

In the heart of a preserved nature between pond and sea, you can taste the seafood, shellfish, mussels and oysters of the producers from Leucate and Gruissan. Conviviality is the key word, while tasting the products of the oyster farms of the Aude region, including the "Caramoun", a special oyster from the oyster farmers of Leucate, with its rich flesh and exquisite taste.

Narbo Martius, the original name of Narbonne, was founded in 118 BC. At first, it was an important trading port with an oppidum (fortified settlement) on the Via Domitia, which grew from a simple Roman colony to the capital of a territory extending from Geneva to Toulouse. The city keeps trace of many Roman vestiges.

Rugbyis sacred in the Aude ! Born in the aristocratic milieu, it gradually spread to all social classes, until it became an anchor of identity. In this department, a "fratricidal war" took place between the supporters of XV rugby and those of the XIII game, which was more present in the western half of the department.

Bathed in sunshine, the Aude is particularly prized for its climate and its sunlight. With 300 days of sunshine per year, the sun plays an important role in the quality of grapes production and the famous wine that comes from it. It enhances the landscapes of the Aude, and provides delicious and warm days perfect for swimming!

Rich of its history and its heritage, the Aude owns 2 sites classified as world heritage by UNESCO: the city of Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi. Nowadays, the series of Citadels of Vertigo (Lastours, Termes, Aguilar, Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Puilaurens and Montségur), built in the ^13th century, is a candidate for a 3^rd classification.

Eole, master of the wind in Greek mythology, can sometimes blow so hard on this territory, that the inhabitants of a neighbouring department have given the Audois the nickname of "Flat Head". The wind on the coastal part can reach 120 km/h and this, up to 270 days/year, be it the Cers, land wind, the Marin, sea wind, or episodically the Greek.

The vine that shapes the Aude landscape was introduced by the Romans into the department in the 2nd century BC. Nowadays, and for the past 3 centuries, it has been the main local economic resource. With its 9 protected designations of origin (AOC), the quality of Aude wines is unanimously acclaimed, and they have become key players on the market.