Aigne

Visit Aigne, Languedoc-Roussillon

Back in 2007, we discovered the wonderful region of the Minervois. Seduced by the mountains, gorges, vineyards and coast, we bought a house there, in a little village called Aigne.

It would be easy to whizz straight through Aigne, on your way to the more historic and well known cathar village of Minerve. But I would strongly urge you to stop here - particularly if you are hungry and it happens to be lunch time. Lo Cagoral, (closed wednesdays and thursdays in winter) is the only restaurant in the village, and serves the finest lunch in the area. At €13.50 a head with wine, you will not be disappointed. But make sure you book in the summer, unsurprisingly this is a local favourite. And what could be more pleasant after a gourmet feast than to explore this gem of a place?

Despite the small size if the village there are several galleries of which to explore, specializing in painting, and sculpture in wood and stone. Visit atelier Jatteau, where Francois and Olivier will welcome you in to their studio by the church, and Pascal Cossin who holds exhibitions in his studio on the right as you enter through the arch.

You will also find several wine tasting caves, those of Eve Bru on the main road and Thierry at Ste-Leocadie on the other side of the village.

And to top it all, there are some stunning walks to be had all around Aigne. Go find your self some rosemary and thyme, some olives, figs or rocket. It’s all wild, and there for the taking. Buy a local map and find the old GR trails, all clearly marked on both map and by painted marks on rocks and trees along the way. You can’t go wrong! South of the village you will find a beautiful walk down to the village of Mailhac, where you will find a cafe to quench your thirst before finding your way back. North of the village, through vineyards you will find the ‘mystical oak tree of Saint Abdon’, long associated with druidism, where there are 360 degree views towards Minerve, La Caunette and the black mountains. Stunning.

I know I live there, and am surely biased, but I just don’t want anyone to miss out! Particularly on that lunch...

Photos of Aigne (click any picture to start the gallery)

Suggested places to visit near Aigne, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

Bize-Minervois 5km

Minerve 6km

Saint-Chinian 15km

Narbonne 22km

See these places and more on a map at places near Aigne

Aigne tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Abbaye de Fontfroide (Narbonne) - religious monument (25km) : Haut-Languedoc - regional natural parc (29km) : Gouffre de Cabrespine - site of natural beauty (29km) : Fraisse-sur-Agout - ville fleurie 4* (30km) : Narbonnaise en Méditerranée - regional natural parc (36km) : Jardin des carrières de Saint-Adrien - remarkable garden (40km) : Parc et jardin du château de Margon - remarkable garden (43km) : Cirque du Moureze - site of natural beauty (54km) :

French version: see Aigne (Francais)