Seven monumental sculptures, a marked circular trail and its location in the AOC Cabardès wine region give Villemoustaussou a distinctive character. Visitors planning a stay can focus on art, time on foot or winegrowing. The specific offerings range from an exhibition that can be explored year-round to a circular route with named viewpoints.
Art in the open air
La circulade is a permanent open-air exhibition. It features seven monumental sculptures by the artist Van Binh and can be explored throughout the year. The shared exhibition setting makes the works a cultural attraction in their own right in Villemoustaussou; a visit is therefore not tied to a particular event date.
For planning purposes, it is useful to distinguish between a permanent installation and a dated programme: La circulade can be explored year-round. This means you can get to know the area from the perspective of art and cultural heritage, independently of a special event day.
Circular trail and views
The Parcours des Crêtes is a 9 km circular trail marked in green. It starts at Parc André Monnié, passes through Domaine de Brau and returns to its starting point. The 9 km refers to the full loop. Returning to the starting point gives the route a clear structure for planning your day.
Along the way, the Parcours des Crêtes offers views of the Montagne Noire and the Cité de Carcassonne, as well as the distant foothills of the Alaric. These three named viewpoints give the loop a scenic dimension: as well as its route and length, the views are one of the trail’s defining features.
Another option in Villemoustaussou is the Parcours santé, which has no particular difficulties. This gives you the opportunity to add another trail to your trip. If you prefer a clearly specified loop when planning, that information is available for the Parcours des Crêtes; for the Parcours santé, the stated feature is its level of difficulty.
Winegrowing and tastings
Villemoustaussou is one of the 18 communes covered by the AOC Cabardès wine region. Domaine La Mijane, an organic winery with a total area of 100 hectares, offers a firsthand look at local winegrowing. Of this area, 12.5 hectares are planted with vines. The grape varieties listed are Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
At the Domaine La Mijane cellar shop, white, red and rosé wines can be tasted free of charge from Monday to Friday. Different conditions apply to tastings of charcuterie or cheese: these are available by reservation and cost €14 per person. This distinction is useful when planning if you are interested in tasting charcuterie or cheese as well as wine.
Domaine La Mijane can be reached on foot, by bicycle and by boat. These access options apply to the winery; they do not describe the route of the Parcours des Crêtes.
Getting there and finding accommodation
Villemoustaussou can be reached via the A61 motorway and the Carcassonne Ouest (Exit 23) or Carcassonne Est (Exit 24) interchanges. Bus routes 2 and 3 connect Carcassonne with Villemoustaussou. If you plan to travel by bus, check the current timetable before setting off so you can fit the connection into your day’s plans.
You can plan your journey according to your chosen mode of transport; if travelling by bus, the current timetable is the practical reference to check.
Discover more destinations: Peyriac-Minervois, Soulatgé, Fontjoncouse, Puivert, Embres-et-Castelmaure, Rennes-Les-Bains, Conques-Sur-Orbiel, Brenac
For the broader travel overview: Aude.
