Fontjoncouse offers a range of starting points for an exploratory trip: the parish church of Sainte-LĂ©ocadie with its adjoining fortification walls, Pic Saint-Victor, and regional products such as wine, olives and honey. You can tailor your stay to culture, scenery or local produce.
Sainte-LĂ©ocadie and the fortifications
The Église paroissiale Sainte-Léocadie and its adjoining fortification walls have been listed as historic monuments since 14 April 1948. The church’s main construction phases date from the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries. This sequence places the church’s construction in time; the fortifications, by contrast, can be understood through their shape: they form an irregular oval with just one gate.
This brings two distinct perspectives together: the chronological sequence of construction phases and the outline of the fortifications. The oval and single gate are concrete details of the site; the construction phases provide the church’s historical context.
Pic Saint-Victor: history and views
A reference dating from around 963 mentions an “Ecclesia Sancti Victoris” on Pic Saint-Victor. This historical connection predates the main construction phases of Sainte-Léocadie and gives the mountain its own earlier point of reference.
Pic Saint-Victor, at 422 metres high, is in the commune of Fontjoncouse. From the summit, you can enjoy views of the Montagne Noire, the Étangs, the sea and the Pyrenees. The summit thus offers a focus on the landscape alongside the church’s architectural history. It is possible to approach on foot; check local access conditions before setting out.
La Ronde des Corbières is a 104-kilometre circular route around 14 communes, marked entirely in yellow and green. The associated stages are currently marked as closed; check access before setting out. At 104 kilometres and spanning 14 communes, the route is a different kind of outing from an approach to a single summit. Keep the closure notice in mind when planning.
Wine, olives and honey
The Domaine de Couchalou offers guided tours and tastings that introduce visitors to wine and olive cultivation. Cellar tours are available by appointment. The shop sells organic wine and organic olive oil. The tours and tastings provide insights into cultivation practices; a cellar visit requires an appointment.
At the Miellerie de Fontjoncouse, visitors can discover the local flora and the garrigue with the beekeeper. The honeys on offer include rosemary, garrigue, maquis and chestnut, along with other beehive products. This focus extends from the products to the local flora, setting it apart from the wine and olive cultivation at Couchalou.
The Auberge du Vieux Puits menus are based on regional products. Its wine cellar holds nearly 900 wine selections, 80 percent of them from Languedoc. At the Auberge, the focus is on restaurant cuisine made with regional products and a wine selection with a strong emphasis on Languedoc.
Discover more destinations: Mas-Des-Cours, Lapradelle-Puilaurens, Mazerolles-du-Razès, Agel, Fontiers-Cabardès, Cascastel-Des-Corbières, Saint Jean De Minervois, Villarzel-Du-Razès.
For the overview of the wider area: Aude.
