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Things to See in the Languedoc: Historic Towns: Limoux

Coat of arms of Limoux - the figure is St Martin, the town's patron saint. Attractive market town in the Aude département with a hansome church and interesting weekly (Friday) market. It lies on the River Aude some 30 km due south of Carcassonne. The river flows through the town from north to south, a number of bridges connecting the east and west halves. Natives are known as Limouxins.

Limoux is a sous-préfecture. There is an Arrondissement of Limoux and a Canton of Limoux. The town has an interesting winter event called a Fècos (often referred to as a Carnival or fête) lasting from January until Easter. This Fècos takes place each year, conducted in Occitan (Fècos is actually the Occitan name for a sort of dance characteristic of the festival). Fècos takes place in the heartof the town (in the place de la Republique), a wide square with stone arcades and timber framed houses. The dancers process around the square from one bar to another.

Click here to read an article on the Limoux Carnaval

Click here for this year's Carnival ( Fécos, Carnaval) programme

Click below for photographs of the 2010 Carnival:

Click below for photographs of the 2009 Carnival:

Click below for photographs of the 2008 Carnival:

Click here to go to the main Limoux page Click here for more about Limoux.
Click here for more on Blanquette de Limoux and Cremant de Limoux
Click here for more photographs of Limoux
Click here for more the Toque et Clocher at Limoux Click here for more about Limoux.
Click here for more photographs of the Languedoc and the Midi

The area is also famous for its wines, and has been for some time. The Roman historian Titus Livius was lauding "wines of light" from Limoux two thousand years ago. Limoux is now famous for its sparkling white wine - much older than Champaigne - and known as Blanquette. A dryer version is called Cremant. One enterprising producer has named one of his wines after a dinosaur that was found locally at Esperaza. Sparking white wine has been made here since before 1500. According to some local Dom Perignan stole the idea while he was visiting a local abbey. If you're interested in sampling or buying any wine, try the co-operative, Aimery-Sieur d'Arques, on avenue du Mauzac (daily 9am–noon & 2.30–7pm). Click here for more on Blanquette de Limoux and Cremant de Limoux

In the past Limoux was known for its woollens and for the tanning of hides brought down from the mountains. (The foothills of the Pyrenees lie just a few miles to the South)

On the nineteenth-century promenade du Tivoli, you will find a "bouledrome" where petanque championships are held. Also the promenade are the Musée Petiet, displaying a collection of local nineteenth-century paintings, and the tourist office, on promenade du Tivoli (July & Aug Mon–Fri 9.30am–noon & 2–6pm, Sat & Sun 10am–noon & 2–5pm; Sept–June Mon–Sat 9.30am–noon & 4–6pm; tel 04.68.31.11.82).

les Blanchisseuses A little further along is Catharama - a multilingual exposition of the Cathars and "their fabulous history". Further along still is the town's curiously evocative war memorial.

Hotels include the wonderfully named Modern & Pigeon in place Général Leclerc (tel 04.68.31.00.25, modpig@chezcom; €55–70; closed Wed), If you like camp or bourgouise you'll enjoy it. In case you are wondering it was once two different hotels, one called the Moderne and the other the Pigeon. Another decent hotel is Des Arcades, south of the church at 96 rue St-Martin (tel 04.68.31.02.57, fax 04.68.31.66.42; €30–40); The municipal campsite (tel 04.68.31.13.63; closed Oct to mid-May) is on the east bank of the river, a little way south of the old bridge.

Limoux is located in the heart of Cathar Country. It features in a number of contemporatry accounts of Cathar activities in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Most "Cathar Châteaux" are located within a short drive of here.

It was here in Limoux that agents of Jacques Fournier, Bishop of Pamiers, arrested Béatrice de Planissolles in 1320. Beatrice, previously Chatelaine of Montaillou, had been trying to flee Jacques Fournier and other Inquisitors, taking refuge with her sister Gentille who lived in Limoux. Click on the following link for an English translation of Beatrice's Interogation by the Inquisition.

Local Activities

Limoux Grizzlies are a local rugby league club. They were founded in 1951 and play in the French Championship (winning it in 1968). They won the Lord Derby Cup in 1995-96.