Bize Minervois ~ the Village      

Bize is a picturesque small village with a population of just over 1,000 situated in the Minervois wine region. Parts of the village are very old, with the occasional tower or turret still remaining and both Prehistoric and Gallo-Roman remains have been identified close by.  In medieval times, the village used to be completely walled and one of the original village great gateways still remains (see picture below). 

The River Cesse is dammed in the summer to create a natural swimming pool, which has a lifeguard in the summer months. A perfect place to just lounge around on the village 'beach' or swim on a hot day (the water is normally warmer than the sea in the summer months).

The surrounding area is famous for the Minervois wine, with the Corbières & St Chinian wine region close by. Olives are also a local product & in early July each year Bize hosts a famous olive festival (Fête de Oliviers), usually the weekend after Bastille Day. Both weekends host free bands in the main square with fireworks around the bridge in the evening. 

          Local Attractions

The surrounding area is famous for the Minervois wine, with the Corbières, St Chinian, &  Jean de Minervois (famous for sweet desert wine) wine regions also close by. Olives are also a local product & there is a local Olive Oil factory which has won many awards for its oil products, with the shop attached selling a variety of olive oil based & other local products. 

The famous Canal du Midi stretching from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic runs within a mile of the village and is ideal for walks, cycling or boating.

Bize has anything from 3/4  restaurants (does tend to fluctuate each year), plus a café bar. There are 2 more restaurants in the neighbouring village of Cabezac, & another a café bar (& internet café). This last bar is excellent for oysters on a Friday early evening when the Oyster man 'comes to town'.

There is also a range of shops: two local food stores; a wine store selling local Minervois wines; a butchers; a bakers; a newsagent; a chemist; a sweet shop; a beauty salon; two hairdressers; an estate agent; a cinema & a public library. There is also a small local market on Wednesday mornings.