Abbaye de Saint-Hilaire
A Benedictine abbey traditionally considered the birthplace of sparkling wine, where monks produced Blanquette, one of the earliest sparkling wines, in 1531.
The Abbey of Saint-Hilaire was founded in the 8th century, and its 14th-century Gothic cloister is well preserved. Inside the church is the Saint-Sernin sarcophagus, carved by the 'Master of Cabestany'. Records show that in 1531, monks here produced one of the world's earliest sparkling wines, Blanquette de Limoux, which predates Champagne. Admission is about €5, and it is open roughly 10:00–18:00. It is about 15 km from Carcassonne and can be visited together with Limoux.
Opening hours
About 10:00–18:00 (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Limoux
- Les Lices
- Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus
- Cathédrale Saint-Michel de Carcassonne
- Cité de Carcassonne
- Château Comtal
- Porte Narbonnaise
- Pont Vieux