Limoux is a historic town set in the vineyards of the hills. Blanquette de Limoux sparkling wines are produced here.
The city was founded in the early Middle Ages on the site of a Roman settlement. It experienced much devastation from the Crusades against Albigenses and the Hundred Years' War. It rebuilt after them as a thriving center of trade, crafts and wine production. According to local sources, it was here in the middle of the 16th century that the local monks of the Saint-Hilaire Abbey produced the first sparkling wine in France.
The city center has compact, historic buildings centered around the Republic Square. There is a Gothic Basilica of Notre-Dame, the Church of St. Martin and a lot of nice tenement houses from different eras. Among the museums, CathaRama, where you can learn about the history of the Cathar (Albigensian) movement, and the Piano Museum are of particular importance.
The surrounding vineyards are one of the attractions of Limoux. Local tourist offices offer tours with sightseeing and tasting. The beautiful Plantes la Bouichère garden in nearby Flassian, with a collection of rare Mediterranean plants, is also very popular.
