Paraza to Minerve and back.
Distance: 43 km
Difficulty: A couple of climbs to Minerve, but mostly downhill on return. Leave Paraza between 10:00 and 11:00 to get to Minerve in time for lunch.
No visit to the Minervois would be complete without a visit to the historic town of Minerve after which this beautiful winemaking area is named.
The ride is suitable for mountain bikes and road bikes. However, if you are on a road bike, please use the D182 road from Cesseras (24.5km) to Olonzac as the alternative track is too rough.
0.0 From the Chai at the top of the tree lined Rue Neuve in Paraza, take the road towards the cemetery. This is the D367 signed St Valière.
0.2 Pass the cemetery on your right as you leave the village. Looking down beyond
the cemetery, you will see the pont-
3.0 Enter the village of Ste Valière. Take the first left unmarked turn towards the Cave Cooperative. Cycle around the back of the Cave and follow the road with the wind turbines on the ridge ahead.
5.0 Arrive at the busy D5 Carcassonne to Béziers road. The cave of Pouzols is on the other side. This is a good place for wine, open on Sundays too! Carefully cross this road into the village of Pouzols.
5.2 Pass the war memorial on your left and follow the signs to Mailhac. The church at Pouzols is very pretty; you will find it on your left.
6.8 Arrive at the village of Mailhac. In the village by the Marie, you will see an arched gateway on your left. Cycle under the arch and through the old quarter of the village. At the end, you will arrive at the flood relief channel. In times of heavy rainfall, a torrent of water from the slopes of the Black Mountains cascades through the village.
6.9 Cross the bridge towards the church and turn second left signed Aigne. After 50m, go straight on, do not turn right into Rue des Puits.
7.1 Leaving Mailhac, you should see wind turbines on your left. Start a gentle climb.
9.0 You will see a pretty farmhouse on your right, Les Tuileries.
11.8 Reach the top of the climb. Take a breather before the short descent into the village of Aigne.
12.7 Turn right at the roundabout onto D910 towards the centre of the village, signed
Aigues-
13.1 Just after the Marie, turn left onto the D177 signed La Caunette and Minerve
13.3 Pass the tennis courts on your right as you cycle out of the village.
14.2 Arrive at a T junction and turn left onto the D907 signed La Caunette and Minerve.
15.5 At the bottom of the hill, do not turn left to Minerve, but cross the bridge over the river Cess and turn left into the village of La Caunette.
16.5 At the small roundabout next to the restaurant, Le Picou, bear left on D10 towards the centre of the village. As you cycle through this part of the village, you will see some dwellings set into the rock face.
17.3 Re-
20.0 Arrive at Minerve. You can cycle across the bridge into the town; a good place to lock up the bikes is at the end of the bridge on the left, under an overhanging rock next to a noticeboard.
There are plenty of places for lunch in Minerve. Our favourite is the Relais Chantovent which has fantastic views over the gorge. (04 68 91 14 18)
Return over the bridge and turn right onto the lower road, D10E1 towards Boisset. Follow signs towards Gorges de la Cesse. Continue on this stunning road overlooking the Gorge.
21.5 At T junction, turn left onto the D182 signed Cesseras. Enjoy the descent!
24.5 Go down through the pretty village of Cesseras. There is a café bar below the church.
At the cross roads at the bottom of the village, take the D182 signed Olonzac. If you are on a road bike, continue on this road to Olonzac. If you have an off road bike, a better route is to cross the road and take the next right turn down a side road, signed Chemin du Tribi.
24.7 Pass the Clos des Roques on your right.
25.5 At the T junction, you will see a stone cross. Turn right here.
25.7 Just before a small bridge with green railings, turn left onto a track.
27.6 Track joins road at Domaine de Cadriac.
27.7 Bear right, not straight on.
30.3 Arrive at Olonzac. This market town is a good place for a coffee. We like the Sports Bar in the main street.
From the mini roundabout at the Eastern end of the main street, take the exit signed D910, Beafort.
30.6 At the large roundabout, take the 2nd exit signed D52, Lezignan-
30.9 Take 1st right signed Lezignan-
31.4 You will pass the remains of an old windmill on the right. This is the Moulin de St Clement.
31.8 Turn left onto an unsigned road at the old stone distance marker on the left.
33.5 You are at the main D65 Carcassonnne to Capstang road. Cross this carefully onto small
road signed Le Tourril.
35.1 At the top of a small climb, you will see the farm “La Serre Mejane” on your right. Continue straight on, signed Chateau Tourril.
35.6 Notice the Chateau Tourril on you left.
36.1 At a fork, follow road round to right, don’t go straight on.
38.1 Passing a new housing development you will enter Roubia. At the T junction, turn left.
38.3 If you feel in need of refreshment, there is a good restaurant and bar “La Fourchette Folle” near the church run by an English couple, Eddie and Lucie. Cross the bridge over the canal. Turn left.
38.4 You can either turn right onto a minor road and follow it to Paraza through the vines, or continue along the road or towpath next to the canal, to arrive at Paraza. You will see the towers of the Chateau ahead.
43.0 Back in Paraza!
