At the same time as geography, history of history, cradle of the oldest raw wine in the world, and high place of pagan festivities, Limoux is the capital of a microregion with strong identity. This subprefecture, which is almost forced to access the upper Aude Valley, is indeed famous for its blankets and carnival, mentioned for the first time in 1605, which lasts from January to mid-March. Therefore, Languedoc-Roussillon!
A little history…
At the gates of the Upper Aude Valley, on the edge of the same river, Limoux probably derives its origins from a Roman era agglomeration. The first known mention of the city's name dates back to the middle of the ninth century, and urban development has arguably been affirmed from the eleventh century, close to Saint Martin Church today in the heart of the ancient city center. Fortifications are mentioned at the beginning of the next century, and around the same time, "a high city" formed northwest of the first agglomeration. But this upper city is permanently suppressed following the military episodes of the Crusade against the Albigeois, in the late 1220 s. At this time Limoux is an important home of catharism and opposes strong resistance to the King of France and the Church. It was around 1240 that the neighborhood of the right bank of the Aude called today the «Small Town». Initially, this sector hosted activities related to leather crafts, one of the most flourishing economic sectors in the city, with the manufacture of wool sheets and the transport of wood by floating on the Aude. In 1355, during the Hundred Years War, the Black Prince took and demolished the city, and the fortifications had to be rebuilt. Between the end of the Middle Ages and the Revolution, Limoux stands among the small Languedocian towns inhabited by 5,000 to 8,000 inhabitants.
Today there are nearly 10,000 Limouxins. 10,000 lucky people who enjoy a rich heritage and celebrate every year thanks to the longest carnival in the world.
Cradle of the oldest creed in the world
Like all major inventions, that of the famous Limoux Blanquette is in fact pure coincidence. It is a Benedictine monk from the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire, near Limoux, who discovered in 1531 the bubbles in his white wine! It was not usual for a wine to take foam in its glass bottle clogged with cork. And on his faith and that of his colleagues the result was, against all expectations, very delicious. All that was needed was to reproduce this mistake so that a divine beverage was born. The first creaming of the world was born.
So, after finding "where the error came from", the method was taught to the winemakers of Limoux who had never stopped over the centuries to fine-tune this complex, subtle and rigorous technique to get a delicate effervescence of the wines that had the excitement still persisting today. And what was the "error", should you ask? The answer is: a second fermentation in bottle. It is obtained by adding a draw liqueur and the wine takes foam. But you need to be patient because the bottles must be based on a binding for 9 months. Before you get a wine to the pale yellow dress with a sweet nose that can accompany a whole meal and has for almost five centuries now a festive atmosphere to the tablet as soon as the stopper jumps.
Some visits…
Rather unknown, the site of the basilica Notre-Dame-de-Marceille was built in the typical Gothic style in the xivth century at the top of a hill dominated Limoux. Accessible within minutes by a paved "sacred path", all kinds of beliefs and mysteries surround this basilica. It would be closely linked to the strange history of Rennes-le-Château and Rennes-les-Bains. A miraculous source of water that would cure eye diseases and a Black Virgin attract large numbers of pilgrims, especially on September 7. However, since 2007, the Black Virgin has been brutally depressed and is a replica in the chapel choir. It doesn't matter because the site has kept almost everything from its superb, including a unique five-span nef, and was classified at Historical Monuments in the 1940 s.
The Museum des Automates, located in an old industrial building of the 1930 s, will not be missed. A baroque and flamboyant décor that welcomes you in 1,500 m 2 of fairy tale and transports you to an unreal world of colorful colors and figurines (1 m to 3.5 m high). More than a hundred moving characters are staged. A universe where characters inspired by tales and myths play and come alive in a musical atmosphere. You can also enter the workshops: the secret of the secret of their manufacture…
The piano museum presents a unique collection in France of a hundred pianos dating from 1790 to present, with the models of the major French factors such as Pleyel, Erard… Finally, the Petiet Museum, founded in 1880, occupies the painting studio of the eponymous family. It preserves the furniture of the living room and the paintings expose themselves to the colorful cimaises in colorful rooms. This museum is rich in works from the second half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century.
… before the festivities!
Because Limoux can pride himself on having the longest carnival in the world. Here, carnival lasts nearly 3 months! It also has the particularity of not being an actual spectacle: There is no replenishment, no tank or parade. It is the entire city that for generations, all ages, participates in its full and absolutely unique folklore. A tradition that is over 400 years old…
On the first Sunday of the festivities, the "suckers" - dressed in white with a red scarf around the blow, hooves with feet and a whip by hand - receive under the arcades of the place of the Republic the straw dummy of Her Majesty Carnival. The whole, the sound of traditional music conducted by the band of carnavaliers or "fecos" (different trades and neighborhoods).
From this day, every Saturday and Sunday, and Mardi Gras, these bands dressed in shimmering costumes, masked and armed of their magical carabens (long decorated roast and encircled that serve to follow the music and to tapote the head of a spectator to indicate that we have the… known) go from coffee to coffee and around the place of the Republic, accompanied by some fifteen musicians. These bands are often followed by «goudils», which are individuals alone or in small groups, they - men, women and children - in total improvization disguise themselves and follow bands, just for the pleasure of participating in the party. In Limoux, we note the success of a band in the number of "goudils" that it drains behind it.
The festivities end on a Sunday, the day of the Blanquette of Limoux. During this day the judgment of Carnival is pronounced in Occitan. And, again, we're celebrating all over town! An event not to be missed.
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When is it? You can go all year round with a preference for spring and summer Indian. For Carnival 2016, go between January 3 and March 13.
Go there. By train, by car or by plane (via Toulouse or Montpellier), everything is possible.
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Useful. To prepare his getaway best.
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