Bize-Minervois
Bize-Minervois | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Country | France |
Region | Occitania |
Department | Aude |
Arrondissement | Narbonne |
Canton | Ginestas |
Intercommunality | Canal du Midi en Minervois |
Government | |
• Mayor (2008–2014) | Alain Fabre |
Area 1 | 20.80 km2 (8.03 sq mi) |
Population (2008) | 1,061 |
• Density | 51/km2 (130/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. |
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
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1793 | 1,025 | — |
1800 | 903 | −11.9% |
1806 | 1,037 | +14.8% |
1821 | 1,106 | +6.7% |
1831 | 1,065 | −3.7% |
1836 | 1,135 | +6.6% |
1841 | 1,166 | +2.7% |
1846 | 978 | −16.1% |
1851 | 1,170 | +19.6% |
1856 | 1,148 | −1.9% |
1861 | 1,210 | +5.4% |
1866 | 1,280 | +5.8% |
1872 | 1,226 | −4.2% |
1876 | 1,419 | +15.7% |
1881 | 1,634 | +15.2% |
1886 | 1,492 | −8.7% |
1891 | 1,483 | −0.6% |
1896 | 1,496 | +0.9% |
1901 | 1,551 | +3.7% |
1906 | 1,491 | −3.9% |
1911 | 1,459 | −2.1% |
1921 | 1,455 | −0.3% |
1926 | 1,318 | −9.4% |
1931 | 1,324 | +0.5% |
1936 | 1,253 | −5.4% |
1946 | 1,231 | −1.8% |
1954 | 1,032 | −16.2% |
1962 | 1,004 | −2.7% |
1968 | 1,001 | −0.3% |
1975 | 921 | −8.0% |
1982 | 783 | −15.0% |
1990 | 807 | +3.1% |
1999 | 872 | +8.1% |
2008 | 1,061 | +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
- ^ Magazine of Natural History on Google Books
- ^ Le Minervois : historic region in the Languedoc Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)