Limoux

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Coordinates: 43°03′28″N 2°13′09″E / 43.0577777778, 2.21916666667

Commune of Limoux
Carnival
Location
Limoux (France)
Limoux
Administration
Country France
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Department Aude
(sub-prefecture)
Arrondissement Limoux
Canton Limoux
Mayor Jean-Paul Dupre
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 156 m–740 m
(avg. 172 m)
Land area¹ 32.41 km²
Population²
(1999)		 9,411
 - Density 290/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 11206/ 11300
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France
Town square
Town square
Pont-Neuf over the Aude River
Pont-Neuf over the Aude River

Limoux is a market town and sub-prefecture in the French département of Aude, a part of the ancient Languedoc province and the present-day Languedoc-Roussillon région. It lies on the river Aude about 30 km due south of Carcassonne.

Contents

[edit] Culture

The town is perhaps best known for its Winter festival called Fècos, often referred to (inaccurately) as a Carnival or fête. It is generally referred to as Carnaval de Limoux in French language. This takes place between January and Easter and is conducted in Occitan, the traditional language of the area (In Occitan the word Fècos is the name of a dance characteristic of the festival).

The cafe scene is dominant in Limoux where food and drink represent the dominant cultural pastime.

[edit] Sights

The heart of the town is the place de la République, a wide square with some fine stone arcading and a number of timber framed houses. Limoux straddles the River Aude and the banks are lined with grand houses, especially on the eastern side, the so-called Petite Ville (lit. "Small City").

Limoux is an attractive place with a wonderful sense of fun. The town likes to party in a most unself-conscious way and for its own pleasure rather than for the sake of tourists. While worth visiting in itself, it is also an excellent base for discovering the history of the region and is ideally placed for exploring the coast, the mountains and some of the finest walking country in France.

[edit] Markets

  • Weekly market every Friday (or Thursday if a public holiday falls on a Friday).
  • Flea market or Brocante the first Sunday of each month on the Promenade du Tivoli.
  • Evening markets on Tuesdays in July and August.

[edit] Places of interest

  • The Musée Petiet (Tourist Information Office),
  • Musée du Piano (Museum of the piano)
  • CathaRama (a history of the Cathar movement).
  • Winery tours at Sieur d'Arques and Aimery.
  • " La Bouichère " - Flassian, 2 hectares of gardens which is home to various collections of increasingly rare plant varieties.

[edit] Miscellaneous

Limoux was the birthplace of:

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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