The GR®78, the Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen, is also known as the Camin Romieu and is one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela. Its red-and-white waymarking passes through Malves-En-Minervois, which is one stage of this route. Here, a marked walking trail, architectural history, rural stone heritage and winegrowing offer different focal points for a stay. When planning your trip, you can choose whether to focus on trails, historic buildings or a wine-related visit.
Waymarking and rural stone heritage
Several capitelles can be seen in the hills of Malves along the circular trail signposted from Rue Trencavel. Most of these structures were built by farmers in the 18th and 19th centuries, using stones gathered while clearing them from the soil. The capitelles therefore also tell a story of rural work: the material from which they were built had first been removed from the soil. The circular trail and the GR®78 are different routes: one is signposted from Rue Trencavel, while the other passes through the village as a stage of the route.
Château de Malves and its architectural history
The origins of the Château de Malves are medieval and probably date back to the 11th century. At the same time, the château is a Renaissance-style building, arranged around a rectangular main structure with a large park. Four round towers define the complex; the two facing the village date from the 15th century. These details distinguish its probable medieval origins from its later architectural design and the dating of individual towers.
Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens Parish Church
The parish church of Malves is dedicated to Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens and is a Gothic building that probably dates from the late 15th century. The church contains gilded wooden statues of Saint Roch and the Madonna and Child. Both figures probably date from the 17th century. The château and the church thus offer different ways to explore the village’s history: the château combines medieval origins with Renaissance-style design, while the church is distinguished by its Gothic architecture and the two statues, which date from a later period.
The Peiro Ficado Menhir
The menhir of Malves, also known as Peiro Ficado, stands about 500 metres west of the village on a hill above the right bank of the Clamoux. It is roughly three times the height of a person and probably extends a similar distance into the ground. Its location and size give visitors a different subject to explore from the buildings in the village: the focus here is a single stone, described both by its position above the riverbank and by its visible and presumed depth.
Winegrowing and a visit to the winery
Domaine Villepeyroux Forest produces, ages and bottles its wines at the estate. Its vineyard is farmed organically; it lies between heathland and pine forests and is influenced by the Mediterranean climate. Visitors are welcome in the tasting cellar throughout the year. Check access before your trip. The wine-tourism walk is a separate offering: it is available by prior reservation for groups of at least twelve people. Confirm the reservation and conditions in advance if you would like to include this walk in your plans.
The different themes can be clearly distinguished when choosing what to focus on: the GR®78 and the circular trail offer different routes; the church and château represent different facets of architectural history; the menhir is a single monument; and the estate offers winegrowing and a visit that requires advance planning. This lets you decide which aspects of the village you want to shape your stay before looking for accommodation, and plan your visits accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Arquettes-En-Val, Nébias, Saint-Louis-Et-Parahou, Moux, Peyriac-De-Mer, Quillan, Fitou, Maisons.
For the wider travel overview: Aude.
