Fitou is a village located in the Aude departement (11). It is famous for its AOC red wine, named after it. Fitou is the oldest vineyard and AOC wine in Languedoc. The village itself is set on the Corbieres hills and overhangs the Mediterranean Sea and the Leucate pond… definitely picturesque! Its narrow and charming streets conduce to discovering more. Its 10th century castle and stone enclosures testify to the riche heritage of the village. It has all the services from patisseries, to general stores, cafés, pharmacy, tennis courts, etc.
Access
Located in the Aude department of the Occitanie region, Fitou is easily accessible from the motorway, with exits close by. It is also easy to reach by train, as it has a local station and the nearest TGV station is in Perpignan and can be reached within 30 mins.The nearest airports are in Perpignan, Carcassonne, Montpellier and Barcelona.
Activities
As Fitou is close to the sea, you can enjoy water activities, such as windsurfing, kite boarding, and sailing. The beaches of La Frangui and La Palme rank among the best in Europe, catering for all tastes, from naturist to regular bathing. There are also lots of hiking and biking paths in the hinterland, pleasing everyone from walkers to horse riders and sportsmen. As Fitou has a great cultural and historical heritage, there are lots places of interest for those who are eager to discover the region. The 10th century castle, which is now a museum, the 11th century church and the numerous “Capitelles” -small stone structures once used by shepherds- are remains of Fitou’s past.
Special events include of course the wine festival. It takes place on the first week end of August and enables the visitor to discover the Fitou wine production, but also to taste the world wide known produce!
Other activities ranging from concerts to antique fairs, sardine barbecues and petanque competitions take place in Fitou all year long.
Food and Drink
Fitou has a number of excellent restaurants. Local specialities include: onions, green asparagus, goats cheese, fois-gras, lamb, pork, mountain honeys, local nougat and fresh fruits such as cherries and apricots. Local cuisine relies heavily on Mediterranean produce like olive oil, tomato and herbs from the hinterland (thyme, rosemary and sorrel). Garlic is very famous in southern France and will be served in the form of aioli and anchoiade in every home.
As for drinks, no need to mention the Fitou wines once again! They are generally dark red wines, powerful and are to be served with game such as turkey, but also with cheese. Those from Mediterranean vineyards (closer to the sea) are medium red, supple and more elegant. The grapes to produce these wines are Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, giving licorice, vanilla and spicy aromas.
Restaurants
- La Cave d’Agnes, 29, rue Gilbert Salamo. Tel no. 04 68 45 75 91. Menus between €15 and €30.
- Restaurant Lou Courtal des Vidals, 13 rue Courtals Tel no. 04 68 45 62 58. Menus from €17,50 to €21,50.
In the event that you fall in love with the region and intend to buy a property there, Sextant properties have bi-lingual agents in the area who known the available properties. They will be able to accompany you on visits, answer your queries and generally make finding and choosing your ideal property a pleasure – all of which will speed the day you walk into your new home in Fitou.