The best road cycling routes around Caunes-Minervois

An ancient site of Roman baths, Homps later housed a commandery of the Knights of the Order of Malta. Then, thanks to the construction of the Canal du Midi, the commune experienced considerable growth in the wine trade and transport. Today, barges make a pleasant stopover in its charming marina.

The Homps lock is a single lock on the Canal du Midi located in the commune of Homps.

Viewpoint over Azillanet ! A nice stop to enjoy a superb perspective over Azillanet, a village whose history dates back to at least the 9th century, when it was mentioned under the name of Azelanum.

From this viewpoint, the village appears surrounded by the vineyards of Minervois and protected by the relief. The domed bell tower of the Saint-Étienne church stands out clearly above the roofs.

At the entrance to La Livinière stands a monument astonishing in its size and history: the Notre-Dame du Spasme basilica. This Marian shrine, which became a minor basilica in 1959, has been a major pilgrimage site in the Minervois for several centuries. Its origin is linked to Nicolas de La Jugie, lord of La Livinière in the 14th century, who is said to have brought back from Jerusalem a statue representing the Virgin at the moment of her swoon at the foot of the Cross. The interior of the building reveals an architecture vaster than one might imagine from the road: three naves and a large space capable of accommodating many pilgrims. A detail that gives the place a unique history: the original statue of Notre-Dame du Spasme, venerated for centuries by the inhabitants and pilgrims, disappeared during a theft in 1960.

In the heart of Cesseras, the Saint-Geniès church surprises with its elegance and medieval character. Built in the 15th century in the southern Gothic style, it retains a single nave, a polygonal choir, and beautiful stone vaults whose sculpted keystones bear witness to the know-how of the builders of the Minervois. Classified as a Historic Monument since 1933, it succeeded a first place of worship mentioned as early as 844. By lingering for a few moments before its stones, one discovers that the history of Cesseras dates back much further than the Middle Ages: the territory has been occupied since prehistoric times, while the village developed around an old feudal castle. Another interesting detail: the name Saint-Geniès recalls Saint Genès of Rome, a Christian martyr from the 3rd century.

In the heart of Olonzac, the church of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption recalls the ancient history of this Minervois town. While the current building mainly dates from the modern era, religious presence on the site dates back several centuries: a first church dedicated to Saint-Jean du Puits already existed in 852, before a new Notre-Dame church was built to support the village's development. Rebuilt in the 19th century, it today bears witness to the many transformations that Olonzac has undergone over time. Looking up at the bell tower, one can also think of the old bell from 1677 preserved in the church. Classified as a historical monument, it still bears the mark of the White Penitents of Olonzac, a religious confraternity once very present in local life.

The very origin of the name Beaufort intrigues historians. It would come from the Latin Bellum Fortis ("powerful fortress"), a name that recalls the defensive importance of the site in the Middle Ages. Observing the relief surrounding the castle, it is easy to understand why this promontory was chosen to monitor the passage routes of the Minervois.