Bize-Minervois is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.

Bize-Minervois
The Cesse river in Bize-Minervois
The Cesse river in Bize-Minervois
Coat of arms of Bize-Minervois
Location of Bize-Minervois
Map
Bize-Minervois is located in France
Bize-Minervois
Bize-Minervois
Bize-Minervois is located in Occitanie
Bize-Minervois
Bize-Minervois
Coordinates: 43°19′07″N 2°52′16″E / 43.3186°N 2.871°E / 43.3186; 2.871
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentAude
ArrondissementNarbonne
CantonLe Sud-Minervois
IntercommunalityGrand Narbonne
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Alain Fabre[1]
Area
1
20.80 km2 (8.03 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,258
 • Density60/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
11041 /11120
Elevation34–323 m (112–1,060 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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Located on the edge of the Haut-Minervois in the Cesse valley, Bize lies between the fertile sedimentary plain of Narbonne and the causses of the Minervois and the Montagne Noire. Bize is situated approximately 3 km north of the D5 between Olonzac and Capestang. Bize is a small village with a population approximately 1,200 where 19% of the houses are second homes.[3]

History

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Bize is first mentioned in 911 in the will of man named Walcharius who left the lands of the parish of Saint-Saturnin of Bizan to the Archbishop of Narbonne. During the religious wars of the 16th century Bize changed hands many times and in 1573 was fortified as a protestant stronghold against the catholic Bishops of Narbonne.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 1,001—    
1975 921−1.18%
1982 783−2.29%
1990 807+0.38%
1999 872+0.86%
2009 1,072+2.09%
2014 1,110+0.70%
2020 1,243+1.90%
Source: INSEE[4]

Sights

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  • Caves Las Fonts (Moulin) - Paleolithic caves, now a classified monument where prehistoric remains were discovered in 1827 by French archaeologist and scientist Paul Tournal, founder of the Narbonne Museum.[5]
  • La Porte Saint Michel 1236 - the main gate in to the village coming from the direction of Narbonne. A second gate, La Porte St Croix - the entrance from the direction Argeliers, Minerve and Saint-Pons - was demolished in the 19th century to allow easier passage for carts.
  • The church of Saint-Michel (18th century)

Events

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  • 'Fete d l'olivier' - Festival of Olives is held annually in July[6]
  • General market every Wednesday morning throughout the year

Amenities

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Bize has two bakers, two general stores, a post office, hairdressers, a pharmacy, and a wine cave. There is also a bar and several restaurants. Sporting facilities include a boulodrome, football pitches (home of Bize FC), tennis courts and in the summer the Cesse is dammed to create a freshwater swimming hole.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Logement en 2020, INSEE
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ Magazine of Natural History on Google Books
  6. ^ Le Minervois : historic region in the Languedoc Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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