Azille
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Azille Azilha |
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| region | Occitania | |
| Department | Aude | |
| Arrondissement | Carcassonne | |
| Canton | Le Haut-Minervois | |
| Community association | Carcassonne Agglo | |
| Coordinates | 43 ° 17 ′ N , 2 ° 40 ′ E | |
| height | 39-120 m | |
| surface | 23.33 km 2 | |
| Residents | 1,144 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 49 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 11700 | |
| INSEE code | 11022 | |
 Chapelle Saint-Étienne-de-Tersan near Vaissière |
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Azille ( Catalan and Occitan : Azilha ) is a municipality with 1144 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Aude department ( Languedoc-Roussillon region ) in southern France.
location
Azille is located about 35 kilometers (driving distance) northeast of Carcassonne and 35 kilometers northwest of Narbonne on the Canal du Midi . The neighboring communities of Rieux-Minervois and Caunes-Minervois are about 7 and 15 kilometers to the north-west, respectively. The place is in the wine-growing regions of the Minervois (AOC) and Minervois-La-Livinière .
Population development
| year | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2004 | 2016 |
| Residents | 1441 | 1205 | 1195 | 1052 | 1056 | 1,080 | 1160 |
economy
The soils in the area are fertile - Azille wheat was famous throughout the Minervois for its quality. In addition, olives and wine were and are grown. With the completion of the Canal du Midi (1666), Azille experienced an economic boom that lasted into the 19th century.
Today Azille - like the whole of the Minervois - is best known for its wines (see Minervois (AOC) ).
history
As finds from a villa rustica suggest, the area around Azille was already settled in Roman and Gallo-Roman times. The Visigoths also temporarily settled here, as a necropolis proves. From these beginnings, the town of Azille gradually developed, which was an important city in the Archdiocese of Narbonne in the Middle Ages. During the time of the Albigensian Wars - perhaps even before that - the city was fortified. At the end of the Middle Ages two monasteries were founded - a Franciscan monastery (1289) and a Clarisse monastery (1331). In addition, Azille was one of the few smaller towns that had two parishes (St-Julien and St-André).
Attractions
- The church of St-Etienne-de-Tersan near Vaissière originally dates from 10/11. Century and has - an exception in the area - a three-aisled basilica floor plan. The church was originally not vaulted, but only provided with a roof truss . The three apses of the choir were probably renewed in the 12th century.
- The single-nave parish church of St-Julien and Ste-Basilisse from the 14th century has a mighty, 36-meter-high west tower. Inside, the Jacob's Brotherhood Chapel is worth seeing, where some statues and reliquaries made of gilded wood are kept. Also of interest is a statue of Our Lady made of polychrome stone, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful sculptures of the 14th century in the south of France.
- Only ruins remain of the two medieval monasteries of the Franciscans ( Cordeliers ) and the Clarissen, which were destroyed during the French Revolution .
- The walls of the medieval fortifications were later converted into house walls. Parts are still preserved.
- There are 14 wineries in the Azille area. Wine tastings are also possible in some cases (request in advance from Office de Tourisme ).
