Bize-Minervois
Commune
The Cesse river in Bize-Minervois
Coat of arms
Location of Bize-Minervois
Bize-Minervois Show map of France Bize-Minervois Show map of Occitanie
Coordinates: 43°19′07″N 2°52′16″E / 43.3186°N 2.871°E / 43.3186; 2.871
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Aude
Arrondissement	Narbonne
Canton	Le Sud-Minervois
Intercommunality	Grand Narbonne
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Alain Fabre[1]
Area 1	20.80 km2 (8.03 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]	1,258
• Density	60/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	11041 /11120
Elevation	34–323 m (112–1,060 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Bize-Minervois is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.

Geography

Located on the edge of the Haut-Minervois in the Cesse valley, Bize lies between the fertile sedimentary plain of Narbonne and the causses of the Minervois and the Montagne Noire. Bize is situated approximately 3 km north of the D5 between Olonzac and Capestang. Bize is a small village with a population approximately 1,200 where 19% of the houses are second homes.^[3]

History

Bize is first mentioned in 911 in the will of man named Walcharius who left the lands of the parish of Saint-Saturnin of Bizan to the Archbishop of Narbonne. During the religious wars of the 16th century Bize changed hands many times and in 1573 was fortified as a protestant stronghold against the catholic Bishops of Narbonne.

Population

Sights

• Caves Las Fonts (Moulin) - Paleolithic caves, now a classified monument where prehistoric remains were discovered in 1827 by French archaeologist and scientist Paul Tournal, founder of the Narbonne Museum.^[5]
• La Porte Saint Michel 1236 - the main gate in to the village coming from the direction of Narbonne. A second gate, La Porte St Croix - the entrance from the direction Argeliers, Minerve and Saint-Pons - was demolished in the 19th century to allow easier passage for carts.
• The church of Saint-Michel (18th century)

Events

• 'Fete d l'olivier' - Festival of Olives is held annually in July^[6]
• General market every Wednesday morning throughout the year

Amenities

Bize has two bakers, two general stores, a post office, hairdressers, a pharmacy, and a wine cave. There is also a bar and several restaurants. Sporting facilities include a boulodrome, football pitches (home of Bize FC), tennis courts and in the summer the Cesse is dammed to create a freshwater swimming hole.