Caunes-Minervois: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

In Caunes-Minervois, abbey history, marble and winegrowing come together. The village abbey was founded in 780 by the monk Anian. The site of the former abbey is protected as a historic monument; parts are classified and parts are listed, and the protection covers the entire area.

Culture and History

The Écomusée “Marbre et Terroir” presents two activities emblematic of Caunes-Minervois: marble extraction and winegrowing. Another link between landscape and culture can be seen at the Carrière du Roy. The quarry was already being exploited by the Romans. Under Louis XIV, large blocks of marble were extracted there; they can be seen in Versailles, including on the columns of the Grand Trianon, as well as in the Louvre, the Opéra Garnier and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.

The Notre-Dame-du-Cros Chapel lies at the foot of gorges and marble quarries. The present-day chapel dates from the 12th, 15th and 16th centuries; its interior features a remarkable use of marble. Chapels were built along the Stations of the Cross as signs of gratitude, and the site developed into a pilgrimage destination.

Nature and Marble

The Safari Marbre is a guided discovery trail at the Terralbes-Est marble site. It also includes a naturalist observation of the local fauna and flora. In the Jardin des Marbrières, information panels provide details about the quarries and their marble, as well as the local flora. The site also includes sculptures, an analemmatic marble sundial, dry-stone walls and a viewpoint overlooking the valley.

Hiking Trails

The Sentier du Marbre – Boucle de Caunes begins and ends at the Parking de l'Europe in Caunes-Minervois. The moderate circular hike is 7.3 km long and takes around 3 hours.

The Carrière du Roy is freely accessible via the Route des carrières. It is located 4 km north of Caunes-Minervois and can be reached on foot from car park P1 in 5 minutes. A 6 km yellow-marked hiking trail also leads from Caunes-Minervois to the Carrière du Roy via the Chemin du Vieux Cros.

Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Caunes-Minervois will find suitable information in this village’s accommodation overview.

Other places: Escouloubre, Fontiers-Cabardès, Les Cassés, Saint-Ferriol, Lavalette, Roubia, Routier, Montolieu.

To the higher-level travel overview: Aude.