We invite you to discover with us the extensive history of our beautiful canton...

Who first walked here?  The man of Tautavel! But that was a long, long time ago - perhaps 450 000 years.  Traces of Néanderthal man (- 90 000 > 35 000 BC ) have been found by archeologists in the form of scrapers and stone knives. Homo Sapiens also seems to have felt at home (-35 000 > 10 000 BC )  having left many  bone objects: arrows, needles, harpoons, etc.  The climatic change that ended the last glacial period sent the  Magdaléniens northward.  Neolithic farmers (-6000 > 1500 BC ) slowly moved in. New races settled down and new tools appeared. They began to cultivate and to develop their ceramic abilities.

The Chasséenne civilization appeared around - 3500 BC, then Neolithic group (> 2500 BC) with a  real pastoral and agricultural revolution. The country grew rapidly - and as testimony we have  common graves or collective graves: dolmens (80), menhirs (20).

There are signs of significant progress during the Age of Bronze (-1800 > - 700 BC) when axes with edges, and bracelets were produced. One can find their traces in Saint Pierre en Val, Montlaur, Caunettes en Val, Taurize, Serviès en Val. Iron replaced bronze which had replaced stone. The region prospered with an interbreeding of peoples: the Iberians had an important influence , as did the Celts and the Ligures. The area began to organize in strengthened conglomerations, with vestiges visible in surroundiing communities: Mayronnes, Saint Pierre en Val, etc....

Gradually the Roman culture penetrated the region.  Latin colonies built up in Narbonne and the economy developed. Agricultural equipment improved and consequently so did agricultural production. Stability and ease of life led to the PAX ROMANA. This was a period of remarkable prosperity for the region in spite of Roman protectionism which forbade cultivation of vineyards and olives to protect Roman imports.  As the Romans build roads, they organized the region,  marking land out in squares. They allowed trade and the development of mines. As the towns developed, so did agriculture.  With restrictions falling, vineyards, olive and grain cultivation developed. Also important in the zones of scrublands were grazing animals.

Regrettably, nothing is eternal! Voila: the Visigoths  enter the scene. When Narbonne became Wisigothique in 461, there began a period of conciliation, respecting the religious and legal structures created by Pax Romana, but incorporating the Visigoth influence. Vestiges of this time are objects of metal: rings, buckles of belts in the geometrical motiff with a distinctive oriental inspiration.  Small rustic sanctuaries were set up almost everywhere on the territory until about the IXth century.

But the Wisigothe civilization did not resist the Saracen tornado, which  lasted a short time and left no archaeological tracks. Local tradition placed the last Saracen raid about 793. The IXth and Xth centuries saw building of small churches and convents on the remains of ancient temples. One of the key locations was the Abbey of Lagrasse. Legend  attributes the building to Charlemagne himself. The very powerful abbey was renown in all  South of France and in Catalonia.

A feudal society slowly developed, with the Lords reigning over the country, taxing serfs and farmers. With equal importance, the Bishops  of the Church acquired power and a princely life. A great rift developed between the rich and the common people eager for purer doctrines. From this rift develped Catharisme with its orientally based doctrines of purity of life. Many of the remaining Cathar Castles are a testimony to the far reaching popularity of this fascinating movment.The resulting Albigensian Crusades were the way the nobles and the Church tried take over the lands acquired by the Cathars. The region was greatly damaged by these bloody religious persecutions - so much that to this day it remains a badly closed wound. The sad conlusion of the Crusade was that the region became part of noble ownership. In spite of that the region experienced an economic boom and the occitane language still reflects it. Hence the name "Langue d'oc", or Languedoc.

The XIVth century was a dark one for all the realm. The black plague raged everywhere and finished the morbid work of reducing the population by 30%. Panic and horror reigned until 1350. But misfortune is seldom a lonely fellow: the One Hundred Years War entered France and marked people in the person of the famous Prince Noir. The "Long-distance lorry drivers", soldiers demobilized in 1360, terrorized the towns people, who built walls to protect ithemselves. Even Lagrasse's abbey built ramparts.

The Region regained its prosperity in the XVI th century. The smaller rustic communities rallied to fight for their independance and  autonomy.

During the XVIIth century the rural communities organized themselves administratively  by naming of consuls for management of the community. It was nevertheless a difficult century because of the plague, the rigours of the climate, and the insecurity which delayed the development of the region. The canton suffered the revolt of Duke de Montmorency, who declared himself governor of the province. Louis XIV strengthened his royal power until he was defeated and executed in Toulouse in 1632.

The XVIIIth century saw an economic recovery with an increase in population. The trading bourgeoisie grew rich and profited from the breeding of sheep. The region avoided the tragedy seen by  other provinces during the Revolution.

The department was created in 1790. A very rigorous winter caused many olive trees to die, which provoked an economic crisis. Certain municipalities like Montlaur were severely affected. Rieux en Val experienced a popular uprising. This prompted the drafting of  the famous Register of Grievances. But the revolutionary laws weakened the poorest members of the population. Numerous conflicts develped among the breeders and the farmers because their interests were completely opposite. Gradually the breeders declined-  partially because of the farmers. The XIXth century saw a real agricultural revolution, with the development of a monoculture industrial wine business. The exclusive vineyard over took the sheep and grain industries, which had been big sources of prosperity.  In Lagrasse there were still 15,000 sheep in 1807, and 12 tanneries in 1833.  But livestock disappeared slowly in the second part of the XIXth century. As the wine industry became more and more profitable, the culture of the olive tree was all but abandoned. The increase of the urban populations and the construction of the railway brought surprising prosperity. The inferior lands were revalued. At the beginning of the XXth century the vineyards supplied the inhabitants with the biggest part of their income. The department of the Aude became completely dedicated to wine, bringing problems of overproduction and doubtful practices of  Parisian traders. This provoked a collapse of the price in the hectolitre.  The Philoxéra virus spared the region for a while but did make an appearance here, but fortunately the vineyards were quickly replanted with healthy stock.

1907 saw the region being fired up; a revolt rose up everywhere, drawing crowds in big cities and developing charismatic leaders like Marcelin Albert. Later, wines coming from the French colonies like Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia created a slump. In 1934 wine prices collapsed, creating a new crisis, which was interrupted by the Second World War. In the 50's the wine growers realilzed the needed to fight for survival. After the war of Algeria, the misfortunes of the occitane vineyard continued with competition from Italian imports. On March 31, 1963 the first commando group was born. Out of the crisis were born new leaders, the most famous being Maffre De Baugé, who created a syndicate of young farmers. But the crisis intensified because wine sales were very poor. The 60's saw the slow asphyxiation of the vineyards. Tensions rose until violent demonstrations occured almost everywhere and caught the attention of the national press. Since Paris seemed to turn a deaf ear, local intellecturals gave the demands of May 1968 awareness through their art. Singers like Marti, poets like Yves Rouquette developed  the Theater of the carrièra. In brief a whole cultural movement develped. Dazed, France rediscoverd this earthy millennium, this theater of many dramas. What was the orders of the day?: " Volem Viure al Pais ". Unfortunately this stoked the fires of controversy, the wine growers  organized and the violence intensified. Finally in 1976, the shooting of Montredon shocked everyone into a quasi resolution. Today as you tour the vineyards, remember that behind beautiful picture postcard landscapes  there is a still evolving fascinating story of the people who rewrite history every day.

The history of the region is fascinating.  As you visit the town of Lagrasse, explore the Abbey, hike the hills above the town, cycle through the communities surrounding the town, remember that many feet have trodden before you. Many have blazed the trails you now find so peaceful. Many have labored before you to place the stones that warm you in the southern French sun. Feel their energy. Feel their fire. And enjoy their lovely wine!