Cahuzac-sur-Vère is nestled in the heart of the beautiful Vère valley. All around, vineyards and hillsides serve as settings for pretty little villages and beautiful dovecotes highlighted by their careful restorations.
Cahuzac-sur-Vère, in the heart of the vineyard
Ideally located between Gaillac and Cordes-sur-ciel, the commune of Cahuzac-sur-Vère is home to many winegrowers whose vines shape a hilly landscape, bathed in soft, changing light.
To discover Cahuzac, organize your trip between the vineyards, on foot, by bike or by car. And to better immerse yourself in the region, push open the doors of the wine estates; no manners here, friendliness and welcome are the order of the day; to be convinced, just come to the aperitif concerts in the summer. In the heart of the vineyards, frank friendships, tastings and open-air music are the ingredients for successful evenings.
An ancient and eventful history
The history of Cahuzac-sur-Vère is very old. The communal territory has been occupied since prehistoric times and an ancient dolmen can be seen on the banks of the Istricou stream. The remains of the Granejouls house bear witness to the Gallo-Roman settlement on these wine-growing lands. From that time on, farms cultivated vines and produced wine. The name Cahuzac is also of Roman origin.
If the beginning of the Middle Ages was made of devotions with pilgrimages to Vieux and to Santiago de Compostela, in the 12th century, Catharism made its appearance. Cahuzac, who remained loyal to the counts of Toulouse and supported the Cathar knights, was besieged by Simon de Montfort in 1212 and taken by his troops in the service of the Papacy.
The Hundred Years' War also caused its damage, particularly due to the pillaging and plundering of companies, these bands of unemployed mercenaries. Just like the wars of religion; Cahuzac passing alternately into the hands of the Protestants and the Catholics. While the lords of Mauriac, who had converted to Protestantism, and of Salettes, who had remained Catholic, engaged in a merciless struggle.
Many buildings were destroyed, including the Cahuzac castle, of which only the gate, opposite the town hall, remains today.
The Saint-Thomas church is the result of a succession of developments. The original chapel, modest and humble, made entirely of wood, bricks and mud, dates back to the 8th century. In the 11th century, a second chapel was built, associated with the castle, under the patronage of Saint-Pierre. It was restored, repaired and restructured many times during the 14th and 15th centuries, as well as after the Wars of Religion.
Also worth seeing is the church of Lintin, slightly off-centre from the village, for the painting in the choir, its vaults, its friezes of the bishops of Albi and the popes as well as its paintings by Nicolas Greschny, a 20th century fresco artist.
The Enemy Brothers
Less than a kilometer from each other, and as a final provocation, the Château de Mauriac faces the Château de Salettes; Protestants and Catholics thus leaving a trace of their past clashes in the landscape. The Château de Mauriac is today one of the region's must-sees and the Château de Salettes has become a magnificent hotel-restaurant in the middle of the vineyards.
Find the hike that suits you
From the “Circuit des bastides” to the “Vineyards and castles” trail, whether you are by car, on foot, by mountain bike, on horseback or by motorbike, you will definitely find the wine road trip, the hike or the simple stroll that will allow you to discover the region from a different perspective, and have a wonderful vacation.
