Bize-Minervois
Bize-Minervois is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.
Bize-Minervois | |
|---|---|
 The Cesse river in Bize-Minervois | |
.svg.png.webp) Coat of arms | |
Location of Bize-Minervois | |
  Bize-Minervois  Bize-Minervois | |
| Coordinates: 43°19′07″N 2°52′16″E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Aude |
| Arrondissement | Narbonne |
| Canton | Le Sud-Minervois |
| Intercommunality | Grand Narbonne |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Alain Fabre[1] |
| Area 1 | 20.80 km2 (8.03 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 1,258 |
| • Density | 60/km2 (160/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 11041 /11120 |
| Elevation | 34–323 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
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
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
| Year | Pop. | ±% 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
- 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
- 'Fete d l'olivier' - Festival of Olives is held annually in July[6]
- General market every Wednesday morning throughout the year
Amenities
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
References
- "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
- "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- Logement en 2020, INSEE
- Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- Magazine of Natural History on Google Books
- Le Minervois : historic region in the Languedoc Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
External links
