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Sallèles-d'Aude
Aude
A village located in the middle of an island formed by the river Aude, the river Cesse and the Canal du Midi surrounded by the biggest and oldest vineyard in the world.
In the old town, the museum is now in the former steward's residence also called " ramonetage ".
The steward, as a rule used to come from the Cevennes, the Causses or the Massif Central. He was the manager of the farm labourers on a landed estate. His wife, the stewardess was taking care of the meals .
Over 1000 tools are on display inside the museum as well as machines and restored vine-growing and wine making objects.
Here, excavations uncovered the remains of a Gallo-Roman potters specialised in wine amphorae making dating from the first or IIIrd century B.C. On the site they digged out 14 ovens ,houses, wells and among many other treasures an aqueduct still functioning today.
In Sallèles d'Aude the major work of interest is the Gailhousty lock keeper house and its overflow weir.
Built in 1780 on the canal's banks this building has sixteen sluice gates on one side, to which correspond on the other, four broad vaults that form the start of a long canal that runs to the Capestang lagoon.
Stopped by the revolution, works were never finished, but the original plan was to bring mud from the Aude river through an 8 kilometers long canal. The mud would have fill up the pond.
The upper floor of the structure used to lodge the lock-keeper and his family as well as the administrator. On the centre front of the building do not miss the superb ornemental piece representing the Languedoc and , Monseigneur de Dillon, then bishop of Narbonne, coat of arms.
Leaving Gailhousty you will get to the Moussenlens lock built in 1688, to stop the Canal from overflowing when the Aude river was running high.
Markets :
- Tuesday and friday mornings
- Potters market during the month of August
Where to eat :
- Pizzaria " La mouche ".
To visit and see :
- Amphoralis Museum open during the season every day ,
- St Roch chapel , with XVIIth century paintings. The church Notre-Dame with XVIIth and XVIIIth century paintings