History

The English text differs slightly from the French one thanks to some amendments of our friends Susan and Kelvin (Thank you both!). They also added a short chapter about the Black Prince.

Set upon a rocky spur, Azille is surrounded by a fortified wall with several gates and circular and square towers. As the town outgrew its original walls, several suburbs were built, including an area to the east, beyond the gate of Narbonne, which is also surrounded by a fortified wall.

At the moment, because of a lack of documentation, it is impossible to pinpoint the exact date of the original settlement of Azille. However, a walk around the town reveals that, in common with many of its neighbouring villages, Azille contains many fascinating places of interest, some dating back to prehistoric times. Amongst recorded sites in the area are Iron Age tombs, the excavation of which uncovered artefacts now exhibited in the Museum of Olonzac. Also of great interest is the magnificent Roman villa situated on the "Serre de Billery", whose statue of Marcyas the Satyr is now displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Narbonne.

In the Middle Ages Azille was one of the most important towns in the Archdiocese of Narbonne. At the beginning of the 13th century, when Catharism was rife, there existed a house owned by "Parfaits" (Perfects), but this disappeared during the turmoil of the Albigensian Crusade. During the 14th century Azille was enriched with the Church of Saint Julien, dependant on the Chapter Saint Just in Narbonne, and it boasted two monasteries: the Cordeliers and the Royal Abbey of Saint Claire. As early as 1289, only sixty-three years after the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Cordeliers opened their monastery in the northern suburb of the city and in 1331, the Abbey of Clarisses was created within the town walls.

It is extraordinary that Azille, without being a Chapter, has two parishes - Saint Julien and Saint Andre. Saint Julien is the Archpriest's seat in the Minervois. The ruins of the parish of Saint Andre can still be seen today and a quarter of the town holds that name. It is recorded that the parish was dependant on Saint Jaques of Beziers in 1096, on the Lagrasse Abbey in 1118 and, finally, on Saint Sebastien of Narbonne. In the 14th century Azille became an Earldom, "Azilhan lo Comtal", and continued thus until the end of the 16th century.

In November 1355, soon after the construction of the Church of Saint Julien, the town reluctantly hosted The Black Prince during his campaign in The Hundred Years' War between France and England: he stayed one night at The Abbey of Saint Claire when he apparently consumed most of their Muscat wine.

After 1483 Azille was a town free from the power of noblemen and was administrated by its own elected consuls: it belonged directly to the Crown; hence the arms of its blazon which are those of the King.

The Canal du Midi, was built by Pierre-Paul Riquet in 1666 and is now considered as part of the Patrimony of Humanity. A very attractive stretch of the Canal runs across the district of Azille for 4 km. and within this area (next to Jouarres) are an impressive double lock and a bridge built by Riquet.

Today Azille and its surrounding area produce wine, the excellence of which is rapidly becoming more widely recognised. In the past, however, though wine was, of course, produced, the economy was traditionally based on the growing of cereals and at the beginning of the 19th century, the wheat of Azille was still the most famous in the Minervois. The economy was also based on olive oil, with Azille being the largest producer in the region.

The numerous springs and fountains in Azille allowed tanners and cloth manufacturers to prosper and, situated as it is in the heart of the Minervois, Azille also attracted the small producers of the neighbouring Montagne Noire to its famous fairs and markets.

At the end of the 19th century, with the arrival of the railway, trade and industry grew. During this period beautiful bourgeois houses were built, which can still be seen in the esplanade. For example Gallimard Chateau, where the musician Cesar Franck stayed, Raymond Chateau, and the houses Mignard and Auzoulat with their intricate decorations made of terra cotta.

Proud of its past, Azille now strives to preserve its historical buildings and develop its heritage of wine growing. As already mentioned, the excellent reputation of the wine of the region is ever growing and the name "Minervois" is now synonymous with good quality wine and olives.

Art and Patrimony

Saint Etienne of Tersan in Vaissiere: this exceptional pre-Romanesque church possesses a basilica plan with three naves and three apses. The three-part nave and the smaller apses are of the 10th century. In the 11th century a part of the nave was vaulted.  The capital on the south side of the choir has been attributed to the workshop of the Maître de Cabestany. It was sculptored at the time of the rebuilding of the great apse in the mid 12th century.

The parish church Saint Julien and Saint Basilisse: this is 14th century and scheduled as an ancient monument. It is a remarkable example because of its meridional gothic style with a single wide nave, three spans with ribbed ogees, and a great apse. The bell tower is 36 metres high. Inside the church, you will find "La Vierge a l'Enfant": the virgin and her child. Considered to be one of the best gothic carvings from the 14th century in southern France, this has been shown in two major national exhibitions.

The Saint André spring: this emerges into a 14th century gothic shelter, vaulted by an intersecting arch. The name comes from a parish which existed in the 11th century and which was destroyed in 1791 after the revolution. The old Presbytery was probably the seat of the archpriest: a beautiful room with a ceiling carried by diaphragm arches in tierce-point, chamfered. (Currently The Tourist Office.)

The Royal Abbey of Saint Claire: this was closed down and sold during the revolution. Remains of it can be seen in the place of the old Chabbert Bakery. The Clarisses came back to Azille in 1891 and built their convent near the road to La Liviniere.

The Cordelier's Monastery: this was founded in the 13th century, and was also sold during the revolution. Many remains can be seen in private houses, in particular several carved stones in the facades of the town buildings. The arches of the church can be seen from Pol Lapeyre Avenue.

The town wall (Middle Ages): this was partly demolished in the 18th century and integrated into houses, which were built into its facade. It is possible to follow its line on the boulevards, which have replaced the old filled-in ditches. Fragments of the wall can be seen at many points in the village, especially near to the Tourist Office.

Witnesses of the great wine growing period (1870 - 1910): include the wine-aging cellar in Jouarres, the chateau and its neo-gothic portal near the bridge of the Canal du Midi, and the neo-renaissance chateau in Floris.

Vineyards and natural irrigation:

The 2000 hectares of Azille's territory include 13 domains. Chateau Jouarres (mentioned above) is one of the last cellars of the 19th century using large wooden barrels. The land of the Jouarres domain is crossed by the Canal du Midi as well as by the River Aude and the River Aiguille and it is intersected by a secondary Roman way near Fans. The domain Hameau (hamlet) de Jouarres is near the Lac (lake) Jouarres, the lake having been transformed into a holiday area with a small beach, water sports and a fishing area.

Other examples include: Les Cascals with its spectacular aqueduct; La Pompe, situated between the river Aude and the Canal du Midi; Les Fans, which belonged to the Lord Maissac de Gazel in 1700; Sainte Marie, on the banks of the Canal du Midi and Saint Julien, famous for its organic (biologique) products.

Also in the area are Floris Chateau on the road to Rieux, which dates back to 1536; Massiac which was built in 1697; Vaissiere and its 12th century church in St. Etienne de Tersan near the river Argent Double; and La Chouppe, La Reze, and Les Salices, formerly belonging to the Clarisses.

It should also be noted that the area is also remarkable for the diversity of its flora and fauna, which are both typically Mediterranean.
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