Lagrasse * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

Lagrasse (fr. Lagrasse, Occitan: La Grassa) is a commune in the Aude department in the Occitania region of Southern France.

Lagrasse is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The most beautiful villages of France) list.

Lagrasse is located about 100 km from Perpignan, 40 km from Narbonne, 30 km of Carcassonne, it lies in the valley of the River Orbieu, at the foot of the Pyrenees.

The region is renowned for the wine produced in the surrounding hills—this is the Corbières wine region, the largest wine-producing region in France.

The village is now home to many pottery workers and artists and hosts many cultural and intellectual festivals such as “Le Banquet du Livre”.

The history of Lagrasse merges with the abbey until the Revolution. In the eighth century, Nimphridius retreated to this valley with some companions and founded a monastery.

Charlemagne created a charter in 778, which is now in the Carcassonne archives. This charter is, in fact, the origin of the Abbey of Lagrasse, which will later become one of the largest in France.

Interesting places and attractions

The village, built on the plan of the bastides, preserves, with its old 12th century bridge, the remains of the ramparts and many old houses
The medieval city: ramparts (like the Porte de l’Eau), narrow alleys, covered market

The Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse abbey located on the bank of the Orbieu facing the village
The Pont-Vieux dating from 1303 then remodeled in the 17th and 19th centuries
The church of Saint-Michel in Gothic style