Bize-Minervois

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

Bize-Minervois
Commune
The Cesse river in Bize-Minervois
Coat of arms
Location of Bize-Minervois
Bize-Minervois
Bize-Minervois
Coordinates: 43°19′07″N 2°52′16″E
CountryFrance
RegionOccitanie
DepartmentAude
ArrondissementNarbonne
CantonLe Sud-Minervois
IntercommunalityCanal du Midi en Minervois
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Alain Fabre
Area
1
20.80 km2 (8.03 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
1,185
 • Density57/km2 (150/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

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.[2]
  • 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[3]
  • 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.

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See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Magazine of Natural History on Google Books
  3. Le Minervois : historic region in the Languedoc Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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