Today is market day in Olonzac which, despite the rain, was still quite active. We learned about the delicacy of horse meat which is best eaten as tartare with a drizzle of olive oil. It‘s not for everyone (read North Americans) but apparently it is loved by the French, Belgians and other Europeans. From here we travelled to Chateau Massamier la Mignarde for some wine tasting. This appellation Minervois won « Best French Red,» « and Best Wine in the World » in the category Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre in 2005. Of course we sampled them all and bought a bottle of the one we liked best to drink at dinner tonight with the cassoulet that Lynn, our chef, has prepared for dinner. Finally we drove to Minerve, a picturesque village 25 kilometres northwest of Narbonne in Langudeoc-Roussillon that is classed as one of the « most beautiful villages of France. » The village is above the gorge carved by the River Cesse before it disappears underground into a natural tunnel. The fortified medieval village, with many of the fortifications still in place, is perched on a naturally defended rocky peninsula high above a canyon. In 1210 a group of Cathars (heretic catholics) escaped from Béziers that was under attack in the crusade and found refuge in this heavily fortified village. It took the brutal Simon de Montfort 6 weeks of siege, but eventually the village gave in after a catapult bombardment destroyed the only well in the village. Following the surrender of the town 140 cathars were burned at the stake. Today this is an attractive village to visit & explore, with narrow streets winding between old stone houses. You can still stroll along the Martyrs road along which it is thought the Cathars walked on their way to the stake.
Commenti