landmark
Canal du Midi
A UNESCO-listed 17th-century engineering marvel connecting the Atlantic to the Mediterranean through 240 kilometers of tree-lined waterway.
5 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeFranceOccitanie
Caunes-Minervois
Occitanie, France · Europe
About Caunes-Minervois
Caunes-Minervois is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Peyriac-Minervois, 19km from Cité de Carcassonne.
Caunes-Minervois is in Occitanie, France, with about 1,600 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Peyriac-Minervois, about 5 km away.
Caunes-Minervois is a small medieval town and commune in the Aude department in the Occitanie region in southern France. It is known particularly for its ancient Abbey, dating from the eighth century, and the outstanding red marble that has been quarried locally from Roman times. The name may derive from the ancientRead more
local Occitan word for cave, "cauna", of which there are a number in the immediate area.
Caunes is also in the Minervois, a designated wine growing region with AOC status but with an ancient heritage. The name derives from the ancient regional capital of Minerve, some 20 km east of Caunes, itself named for the Roman Goddess Minerva. The Romans came through here, settling and introducing vines & olives in the region. Minervois Vignerons have been dynamic in changing the perception of the world towards wine from the south of France, developing quality products and experimenting with both old and new grape varieties and techniques.
The ruined castle (chateau) at Minerve is a site attracting many visitors due to the ongoing interest in Catharism and the Albigensian Crusade. Caunes lies in the northern part of the modern touristic region of the "Pays Cathare" – Cathar Country – which stretches here from the Pyrenees.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Caunes-Minervois?
Within an hour or so of Caunes-Minervois: Canal du Midi (5 km), Cité de Carcassonne (19 km), Abbaye de Fontfroide (37 km), Cathar Castles (51 km).
Are there any good drives near Caunes-Minervois?
The nearest famous roads are Millau Viaduct (A75), Port d'Envalira and Coll d'Ordino.
Where is Caunes-Minervois?
Caunes-Minervois is in Occitanie, France, about 5 km from Peyriac-Minervois.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,593
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Region
- Occitanie
- Timezone
- Europe/Paris
- Coordinates
- 43.3277, 2.5268
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for FranceTags
Worth the detour from Caunes-Minervois
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Cité de Carcassonne
A medieval fortified city in southern France with a double ring of massive walls and 53 towers, restored in the 19th century.
19 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Abbaye de Fontfroide
A beautifully preserved Cistercian abbey of rose-gold stone tucked in a quiet wooded valley near Narbonne.
37 km · about 45 min drive
castle
Cathar Castles
Ruined medieval fortress sanctuaries perched on impossible rocky peaks across the Languedoc, including Peyrepertuse and Queribus.
51 km · about 60 min drive
castle
Château de Peyrepertuse
A vast ruined Cathar castle stretching along a knife-edge ridge high above the Corbières vineyards.
51 km · about 60 min drive
castle
Château de Quéribus
The last Cathar stronghold, a lone keep perched on a rocky pinnacle with views to the Pyrenees and sea.
55 km · about 65 min drive
Driving in France
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.85/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€10.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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