Bize-Minervois

Bize-Minervois
Commune
Bize-Minervois
Location within Occitanie region
Bize-Minervois
Coordinates: 43°19′07″N 2°52′16″E / 43.3186°N 2.871°E / 43.3186; 2.871Coordinates: 43°19′07″N 2°52′16″E / 43.3186°N 2.871°E / 43.3186; 2.871
Country France
Region Occitanie
Department Aude
Arrondissement Narbonne
Canton Le Sud-Minervois
Intercommunality Canal du Midi en Minervois
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Alain Fabre
Area1 20.80 km2 (8.03 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 1,061
 • Density 51/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (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.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

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

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 1,000 where a quarter of the houses are second homes.

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

Historical population
YearPop.±%
17931,025—    
1800903−11.9%
18061,037+14.8%
18211,106+6.7%
18311,065−3.7%
18361,135+6.6%
18411,166+2.7%
1846978−16.1%
18511,170+19.6%
18561,148−1.9%
18611,210+5.4%
18661,280+5.8%
18721,226−4.2%
18761,419+15.7%
18811,634+15.2%
18861,492−8.7%
18911,483−0.6%
18961,496+0.9%
19011,551+3.7%
19061,491−3.9%
19111,459−2.1%
19211,455−0.3%
19261,318−9.4%
19311,324+0.5%
19361,253−5.4%
19461,231−1.8%
19541,032−16.2%
19621,004−2.7%
19681,001−0.3%
1975921−8.0%
1982783−15.0%
1990807+3.1%
1999872+8.1%
20081,061+21.7%

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.[1]
  • 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[2]
  • General market every Wednesday morning throughout the year

Amenities

Bize has two bakers, two general stores, a post office, hairdressers, a woodburner store, 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

  1. ↑ Magazine of Natural History on Google Books
  2. ↑ Le Minervois : historic region in the Languedoc Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
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