Roullens offers several different perspectives on a stay: its hillside location on the Malepère overlooking the Aude Valley, wine and truffles as regional themes, and walking trails and memorial sites. When planning, you can focus on the landscape, food and drink, outdoor activities or commemorative heritage.
Landscape and walking trails
Roullens lies on a hillside on the slopes of the Malepère and overlooks the Aude Valley to the east. The L’Arbousier trail passes through Mediterranean vegetation: holm oaks, acacias, wild thyme, broom, heather and lavender shape its plant life. As a moderately difficult walking trail, it offers two specific points to consider when planning: its stated difficulty and the vegetation along the route. Check local conditions before setting out.
Another option is the Boucle du Grèbe, a circular walking trail with a named starting point: it begins at Place de l’École and heads towards Domaine de Baudrigue and Lac de Taure. While L’Arbousier is described in terms of its moderate difficulty and plant life, the Boucle can be identified by its starting point and direction. Lac de Taure is near Roullens and is private; please respect the private status of the site.
Wine and summer truffles
Château de Cointes produces AOP Malepère wines in red and rosé, as well as Vins de Pays in red and white. If you would like to explore the region’s wine variety, you can note the different appellations and colours: AOP Malepère includes red and rosé, while Vins de Pays includes red and white. These details give a specific overview of the wine range without equating the two categories.
At Château de Cointes, the Gorostis family allows visitors to use a path through the vineyards towards the Chemin de Saint-Jacques. A stop at the wine cellar is recommended to discover the wines and meet the winemaker. The path through the vineyards and a visit to the wine cellar offer different ways to explore the subject of wine: one through the landscape, the other through the produce and the opportunity to talk with the winemaker.
In June, the Truffe et Terroir en Malepère festival in Roullens celebrates the summer truffle, Tuber aestivum, together with AOP Malepère. Jazz and bandas bring the streets to life; the festival also includes free games for children and exhibitions. Culinary themes, music and exhibitions come together at this event.
Village traditions and remembrance
Another date is 25 July: the feast of Saint James the Greater, patron saint of Roullens, includes a communal meal in the streets of the village centre. This recurring tradition provides a distinct focus alongside the June festival, which centres on summer truffles and AOP Malepère.
Memorial sites are also among Roullens’ cultural highlights. Commemorative ceremonies are held every year at Domaine de Baudrigue, a memorial site. The Clairière de Baudrigue in Roullens is also a memorial site; monuments there honour the victims of the massacre. Alongside the landscape and wine, these places offer visitors another distinct cultural perspective.
Discover more destinations: Quintillan, Montréal, Albières, Conques-Sur-Orbiel, Les Cassés, Ouveillan, Pécharic-Et-Le-Py, Gourvieille.
For the broader travel overview: Aude.
