Minerve, Hérault

Minerve

The bridge at Minerve

Coat of arms

Minerve

Location within Occitanie region

Minerve

Coordinates: 43°21′17″N 2°44′50″E / 43.3547°N 2.7472°ECoordinates: 43°21′17″N 2°44′50″E / 43.3547°N 2.7472°E

Country

Olonzac

Minervois

Government

• Mayor (2008–2014)

Didier Vordy

Area¹

27.89 km² (10.77 sq mi)

Population (2008)²

122

• Density

4.4/km² (11/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

INSEE/Postal code

34158 /34210

Elevation

137–604 m (449–1,982 ft)
(avg. 227 m or 745 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

²Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Minerve (Occitan: Menèrba) is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France.

In 1210 a group of Cathars sought refuge in the village after the massacre at Béziers during the Albigensian Crusade. The village was besieged by Simon de Montfort, Viscount of Albi and Carcassonne. The attacking army besieged the village for six weeks before it surrendered. Four catapults or trebuchets were set up around the ramparts, three to attack the village itself and the largest, known as Malvoisine or "bad neighbour", to destroy the town's well. With the town's only water supply cut off, the Commander of the 200-strong garrison, Viscount Guilhem of Minerve, gave in and negotiated a surrender in order to have the villagers and himself spared from death. However, 140 Cathars refused to give up their faith and convert, being burned to death at the stake on 22 July.

The village is situated on top of the gorge of the River Cesse in a naturally strong defensive position. Near the village the river disappears underground in a large, naturally-carved tunnel.

Minerve

Minerve has been selected as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The Most Beautiful Villages Of France"). Historically, the village has been the capital of the Minervois wine region. The main bridge leading into the village is closed to all passenger vehicles not owned by residents of Minerve. Of all of the original fortifications, only a slender octagonal tower, known locally as the Candela, survives.

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Wikipedia