Limoux

Visit Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon

Limoux is on the Aude River in cathar country to the south-west of Carcassonne. It is a pleasant, unassuming French town, with little in the way of 'highlights' but worth an excursion if you are in the region.

Explore Limoux

Start your visit to Limoux in the historic centre, an attractive centre which is based around the Place de la Republique and has some attractive 15th-16th century houses and other monuments. It’s a very pleasant spot to stop for lunch.

You can also see the old bridge in Limoux with its passing places  - the bridge dates from the 14th century and was originally fortified. You can also see traces of the original fortified gateways into the town.

There is also a small museum in the town celebrating local painters, and a museum commemorating the role of the cathars in the region.

Market day in Limoux is Friday, and is the best day to visit.

Limoux carnival

If you visit between January and March you can enjoy the Carnival of Limoux, an ancient traditional carnival still pursued each weekend during those months with music and costumes. The carnival is the longest in the world and follows traditions dating back 400 years.

If you are in town during this period the different groups and bands play and parade at 11 o’clock, four-thirty and at 10 o’clock at night each weekend.

Blanquette de Limoux

Limoux is best known for its sparkling wine, Blanquette de Limoux. This is reputed to be the oldest sparkling wine in France and dates back to 1531 when Benedictine monks from Saint Hilaire Abbey discovered that the wine they had laid down had fermented and formed bubbles.

This was the beginning of Limoux’s bubbly - the Blanquette de Limoux which was the first AOC to be created in the Languedoc area. The process (the locals say) was stolen by Dom Perignon who went on to create champagne. However the Limoux sparkling wine is a very high quality champagne substitute and Crémant, which was developed in 1990, has a top class reputation. You can (and should) buy a bottle in the town to try, it's good!

Attractions nearby

For garden lovers the Jardin aux Plantes La Bouichere is just on the edge of Limoux and specialises in fragrant plants. There are more than a thousand of them in the garden.

The fortified town of Carcassonne is of course an unmissable site when you are staying in the region near Limoux.

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

Tourist classifications for Limoux: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*; Recommended detour town (plus beau detour);

Suggested places to visit near Limoux, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Quillan 21km; Camon 21km; Montolieu 28km; Mirepoix 28km; Lagrasse 33km; Saissac 34km; Castelnaudary 36km; Montsegur 37km; Mosset 44km; Molitg les Bains 47km; Revel 48km; Ax-les-Thermes 49km; Pamiers 50km; Eus 50km; Foix 51km; Prades 52km;

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

Limoux tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Fontaine Intermittente de Fontestorbes - site of natural beauty (29km) : Gorges de Galamus - site of natural beauty (33km) : Parc aux Bambous - remarkable garden (39km) : Gouffre de Cabrespine - site of natural beauty (39km) : Eglise de Sainte Marie de Marcevol (Arboussols) - religious monument (49km) : Orgued d'Ille-sur-Tet - site of natural beauty (54km) : Abbaye de Fontfroide (Narbonne) - religious monument (54km) : Eglise de Trinité d'Aregno (Aregno) - religious monument (54km) :

French version: see Limoux (Francais)