Between the Massif de la Clape and Narbonne, in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional de la Narbonnaise, Bizanet is a small perched village surrounded by vineyards and garrigues, with plenty of charm and curiosities to keep visitors coming back for more. We tell you all about it in this article!
In the secret of a picturesque Narbonnais village
Nestled at the gateway to the Cathar countryside, 10 km as the crow flies from our campsite in the Aude, near Narbonne, Bizanet is a peaceful rural commune in the Narbonnais region with some 1,700 inhabitants who live to the rhythm of the seasons and the work of the vine. It’s a village not to be missed if you’re planning to visit Fontfroide Abbey, just a few kilometers away.
Before exploring its surroundings and hidden treasures, you’ll need to take a tour of the village, from the church to the winding lanes dotted with fountains and washhouses. A complete change of scenery for those seeking the calm of nature and the majesty of old stones.
Domaine de la Source, France’s largest amethyst exhibition
Since 2007, the Domaine de la Source in Bizanet has been home to an impressive collection of semi-precious stones, with over 700 minerals from the region and around the world. Over time, the former vineyard has even become France’ s largest amethyst exhibition. There’s also a gift store where you can take home a souvenir of your visit.
Saint-Martin de Toques castle
Mentioned as early as 978, the Château de Saint-Martin de Toques belonged to the Lords of Narbonne. Built on an isolated hilltop, it once controlled the trade route linking the Viscounty of Narbonne to the Corbières. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1926, it is now privately owned. It’s not possible to visit the inside of the castle, but it’s just as impressive from the outside, visible from afar from the road and surrounding paths.
Gaussan Castle
Built on an ancient Gallo-Roman site on the road to Saint-André-de-Roquelongue, the château-monastère de Gaussan is a surprising neo-Gothic construction with the appearance of a medieval fortress. This is a former fortified Cistercian farmhouse (13th century) occupied by the monks of Fontfroide Abbey. The building was listed as a historic monument in 1986.
The Quilhanet estate and chapel
It’s almost by chance that we stumble upon this little rural chapel lost among the outbuildings of the Quilhanet estate. Below the château, the owner welcomes you to a small cellar specially designed for tastingAOC Corbières wines. The cellar leads to a 13th-century Romanesque chapel, a blend of purity and mystical grace.
The fortified castle of Saint Pierre des Clars
In the commune of Montredon, on the outskirts of Bizanet, the ruins of the 10th-century fortified castle of St Pierre des Clars stand on a hill overlooking the plain and hillsides of the eastern Corbières. During the Wars of Religion, the castle was dismantled. The remaining square keep impresses with its exceptional height. The remains of the château and the banks of the Veyret have been listed as a natural site since 1943.