Aigne
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?
To walk in to the fortified area of the village, is to wonder in to a fairy tale. It’s a truly magical space, with an immediate feeling of intimacy to it. Find your way through the single stone arch and you will be amazed by the tight coil of houses, curving their way around the central square, protecting the most important monument, the church. I was lucky enough to be married in this part of the village last June. There could have been no where more perfect to say our vows.
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...
(guest article and photos kindly contributed by Imogen Lock)
Visit Aigne (Languedoc-Roussillon, Herault) travel, gites and hotels
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The Aigne hotels listed feature descriptions, guest reviews, ratings, location maps, online booking etc. as well as the 'best-price' guarantee. The search for hotels in Aigne is provided by booking.com. General holiday / vacation options- See Herault gites for Aigne holiday rentals - Holiday villages in Languedoc-Roussillon Holidays nearbyLooking for something close by? See a wide choice of hotels, holiday villages and holiday rentals at: VisitSee Visit Aigne for places to visit near Aigne including: a detailed map, villages in bloom and most beautiful villages DiscussAsk questions or leave a comment about Aigne in our Languedoc-Roussillon forum Airports near AigneCarcassonne airport at 57 km Montpellier airport at 129 km Perpignan airport at 65 km Rodez airport at 124 km Aigne property for saleSee Languedoc-Roussillon property for sale
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Places to visit near Aigne, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Aigne.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
6 km: Bize-Minervois (town) 24 km: Fontfroide Abbey (Abbey) 34 km: Lagrasse (Most beautiful village) 8 km: Minerve (Most beautiful village) 26 km: Narbonne (Coastal city) 27 km: Olargues (Most beautiful village) 30 km: Roquebrun (Town and gardens) 17 km: Saint-Chinian (town)
See also Aigne (version Francais)
