Day Out in the Minervois

St. Jean de Minervois and Paguigan
3 april 2010, We went to St. Jean de Minervois to see "L'église dans le trou" - the church in the hole. Approach the village of St. Jean de Minervois from the south, and before entering the village, turn right on a narrow road towards Gomios. Find the track across the vines to the small parking space with a sign explaining about the church - then follow the path.
It descends steeply, with many fallen boulders beside it, to cross the brook at the bottom of this steep valley. Then you find the half-ruined church, which is delightful. Renovation has begun and it has a new roof.
The church was on a pilgrim route, and one can imagine the pilgrims weaving their way down the deep and sheltered valley, to the church, to pray and then sleep, their blankets wrapped around them. Beside the church is a cemetary - the youngest grave is dated 1983, so the church is still in use. Another grave was to a historian known to our group, Auguste Cougenc, who was the ancestor of the people in the nearby village of Barroubio who arranged a wine tasting for us. The wine is called "Muscat" and is sweet and raisony, with many varieties, all absolutely delicious!

We then continued to Paguignan, to another ruined chapel, perhaps 9th century. It was very beautiful, and its view over the valley suggested it was once a fortified church before the modern church nearby was built.