Carnaval and Toques & Clochers

It’s the end of carnavale. Carnaval? Whichever way it’s spelled, the masked dancing is hilarious.

Also, it means that I’ve had lots of themed meals built around cassoulet and sad clowns dancing down the streets of Limoux. Aude is home of the longest carnaval celebration on the planet. (Maybe a bit too long?) We go from January til March with six parades every weekend.

The video above is from an excellent dinner I had at Chateau Pennautier where the CIVL hired a banda and some dancers to lead us in some carnaval shenanigans at the end of the meal.

While Carnaval is wonderful (and that dinner was especially great), I can only take so many brass bands… so I’m happy to say that it’s over. Sunday is the Fete des Rameaux. The weekend of Toques et Clochers!

Toques et Clochers is a big auction of single vineyard Chardonnay produced by Sieur d’Arques.  They also do a big party in one of the towns that produces the wine, and they rennovate a local church tower with the money raised by the auction.

Earlier this year, I got a sneak peak at the barrel samples, and they were very exciting.

I’m looking forward to this weekend to see how those barrels are coming along.

This weekend’s Toques et Clochers 2011 schedule:

PROGRAMME TOQUES ET CLOCHERS 2011

Bonjour,

Voici le programme de la 22ème Édition de Toques et Clochers :

-10h :    Ouverture des Caveaux de Dégustation des «AOC Limoux»  Sieur d’Arques : Vins Toques et Clochers millésime 2009 et Première Bulle

-10h30 : Célébration en l’honneur de la Basilique rénovée Notre-Dame-de-Marceille

-15h : Inauguration officielle : «Cortège et Défilé des Vignerons du Sieur d’Arques et Parade Limouxine»

Points de Restauration,
Animation de rues,
Musique

Entrée obligatoire 1verre : 5€
Accès à la fête par navette :

Quartier du Paradou
Départ Limoux, route de Carcassonne
Départ Couiza, devant La Poste

Accès à la Basilique :
Départ Limoux, Allée des Marronniers

Vous trouverez ci-joint ce mail l’affiche de Toques et Clochers de cette année.

2011 toques et clochers flier

How to find us

Domaine O’Vineyards, located in the North Arrondissement of Carcassonne, is just minutes from the Carcassonne train station, the Medieval City, and the Carcassonne Airport.
GPS coordinates: 43.259622, 2.340387

O’Vineyards
Wine, Dine, Relax at our Boutique Vineyard
Unique thing to do in Carcassonne
Wine Cellar. Winery Visits. Wine Tasting.
Wine & Food Pairing

North Arrondissement of Carcassonne
885 Avenue de la Montagne Noire
11620 Villemoustaussou, France
Tel: +33(0) 630 189 910

  1. Best by GPS.
    Follow the signs to Mazamet/ Villemoustaussou using the D118. At the end of the last straight part of D118, you will come to a roundabout with the Dyneff gas station.
  2. Take the exit towards Pennautier. Continue 500m to a small roundabout and go straight over.
  3. Look out for the second road on your right, Avenue des Cévennes which curves up hill (about 1km) to Avenue de la Montagne Noire on the left.
  4. At the last juction, bear left. the road sign “Ave de la Montagne Noire” (confusing as it seems to show a right turn)
  5. After another 500m you will see our red brick color building in the middle of the vines.

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