Limoux
Encyclopedia
Limoux is a commune
and subprefecture in the Aude
department, a part of the ancient Languedoc
province
and the present-day Languedoc-Roussillon
region
in southern France
. It lies on the river Aude
about 30 km (18.6 mi) due south of Carcassonne
.
As of 2011 the wine Festival "Toques et Clochers" will be held in Limoux every spring.
The cafe scene is dominant in Limoux where food and drink represent the dominant cultural pastime.
Limoux is an attractive place with a wonderful sense of fun. The town likes to party in a most unself-conscious way and for its own pleasure rather than for the sake of tourists. While worth visiting in itself, it is also an excellent base for discovering the history of the region and is ideally placed for exploring the coast, the mountains and some of the finest walking country in France.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
and subprefecture in the Aude
Aude
Aude is a department in south-central France named after the river Aude. The local council also calls the department "Cathar Country".Aude is also a frequent feminine French given name in Francophone countries, deriving initially from Aude or Oda, a wife of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and mother...
department, a part of the ancient Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
province
Provinces of France
The Kingdom of France was organised into provinces until March 4, 1790, when the establishment of the département system superseded provinces. The provinces of France were roughly equivalent to the historic counties of England...
and the present-day Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the 27 regions of France. It comprises five departments, and borders the other French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées on the one side, and Spain, Andorra and the Mediterranean sea on the other side.-Geography:The region is...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in southern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It lies on the river Aude
Aude River
The Aude River is a river of southwestern France. Its source is in the Pyrenees mountains and it then runs to Carcassonne and turns, reaching the Mediterranean Sea near Narbonne...
about 30 km (18.6 mi) due south of Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
.
Population
Culture
The town is perhaps best known for its Winter festival called fecas ˈfekɔs, often referred to (inaccurately) as a Carnival or fête. It is generally referred to as Carnaval de Limoux in French language. This takes place between January and Easter and is conducted in Occitan, the traditional language of the area (In Occitan the word fecas is the name of a dance characteristic of the festival).As of 2011 the wine Festival "Toques et Clochers" will be held in Limoux every spring.
The cafe scene is dominant in Limoux where food and drink represent the dominant cultural pastime.
Sights
The heart of the town is the place de la République, a wide square with some fine stone arcading and a number of timber framed houses. Limoux straddles the River Aude and the banks are lined with grand houses, especially on the eastern side, the so-called Petite Ville (lit. "Small City").Limoux is an attractive place with a wonderful sense of fun. The town likes to party in a most unself-conscious way and for its own pleasure rather than for the sake of tourists. While worth visiting in itself, it is also an excellent base for discovering the history of the region and is ideally placed for exploring the coast, the mountains and some of the finest walking country in France.
Markets
- Weekly market every Friday (or Thursday if a public holiday falls on a Friday).
- Flea market or Brocante the first Sunday of each month on the Promenade du Tivoli.
- Evening markets on Tuesdays in July and August.
Places of interest
- The Musée Petiet (Tourist Information Office),
- Musée du Piano (Museum of the piano)
- CathaRama (a history of the Cathar movement).
- Winery tours at Sieur d'Arques and Aimery.
- Jardin aux Plantes la BouichèreJardin aux Plantes la BouichèreThe Jardin aux Plantes la Bouichère is a private botanical garden specializing in fragrant plants. It is located on the banks of the Aude River in the Domaine de Flassian, Rue Dewoitine, Limoux, Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, and open Wednesday through Sunday in the warmer months; an...
- Flassian, 2 hectares of gardens which is home to various collections of increasingly rare plant varieties.
Personalities
Limoux was the birthplace of:- Francis de Gaston, Chevalier de LevisFrancis de Gaston, Chevalier de LevisFrançois de Gaston, Chevalier de Lévis , born in Ajac, Aude, was a French noble and a Marshal of France. He served with distinction in the War of the Polish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession, and served as a capable second in command to Louis-Joseph de Montcalm in the defense of New...
(1719-1787), Marshal of FranceMarshal of FranceThe Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements... - Alexandre GuiraudAlexandre GuiraudPierre Marie Jeanne Alexandre Thérèse Guiraud better known as Alexandre Guiraud was a French poet, dramatic author and novelist.-Biography:...
(1788-1847), poet, dramatic author and novelist - Poulpard (1981-20**), one of the most famous french stand-up comedian, also writer of few dramatic novels.
See also
- Limoux GrizzliesLimoux GrizzliesLimoux Grizzlies are a French rugby league club from the town of Limoux in the département of Aude. They play in the Elite One Championship.-History:The Limoux club was founded in 1951. The club won its first and thus far only French Championship in 1968...
, a rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
club from Limoux - Limoux wineLimoux wineLimoux wine is produced around the city of Limoux in Languedoc in southwestern France. Limoux wine is produced under four Appellation d'origine contrôlée designations: Blanquette de Limoux, Blanquette méthode ancestrale, Crémant de Limoux and Limoux, the first three of which are sparkling wines...
, white wine, usually sparkling, produced in the area - Communes of the Aude department