Minerve

Two rivers, the Cesse and the Brian, have carved deep canyons on either side of Minerve, leaving the village on a natural rock fortress joined to the plateau by a single bridge. That position did not save it in 1210, when Simon de Montfort's siege ended with the burning of 140 Cathars. Today the village gives its name to the Minervois wine country.

Highlights

• The natural rock tunnels of Pont Grand and Pont Petit on the Cesse
• The Candela, a slender octagonal tower left from the castle
• The 11th to 12th-century church of Saint-Étienne
• A replica of the Malvoisine trebuchet and a dove memorial to the Cathars
• Minervois AOC wines from the surrounding vineyards

Summary based on Wikipedia and Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), written with AI assistance.