Assignan is a commune in the Hérault department, in the Occitanie region, 6 km southwest of Saint-Chinian.
Bordering Aude to the south, its territory of nearly 8 km² belongs to the natural and wine-growing region of Minervois. Crossed by several rivers, it is covered with forests (36% of its surface area) and scrubland on its "northern" part and cultivated plains (40%) on its "southern" part. The latter are mainly planted with vines (production of Saint-Chinian appellation wines). In the 20th century, they replaced pastoralism and the cultivation of cereals and chestnuts.
Already occupied during Prehistory (presence of dolmens) and in Antiquity (a Roman villa was located on a road linking Quarante to Lacaune), the village developed from the Year 1000. First reporting to the abbey of Saint-Pons, it was attached to the lordship of the viscounts of Minerve in 1126. Equipped with a castrum, from the county of Narbonne.
Today, the village of 160 inhabitants which was modernized in the 19th century (school, sanitation) while retaining elements of heritage character remains a stronghold of the regional vineyard. It also benefits from the dynamism of a wine tourism complex initiated in 2007 around the Castigno castle (hotels, lodges, restaurants and shops).
Assignan which has the appearance of a small village perched between vineyards and scrubland, has a heritage of interest.
In addition to archaeological remains (such as the dolmen on the road to Coulouma, to the north), several sites are worth mentioning or visiting. This is the case of the Saint-Pierre church, erected in 1684 to replace a primitive chapel, destroyed by a fire, the remains of which are still visible on the road to Saint-Jean-de-Minervois. The building includes a nave of three bays covered with a semi-circular cradle. The keystone bears the date 1701. Equipped with a new altar in 1960, in the form of a granite table, the church was restored at the beginning of the 21st century: removal of the sacristy and reopening of the door, on the south side.
Next to see, the square and crenellated tower of the old feudal castle (14th century), a testimony which is completed by what remains of the old fortress gate, with portcullis.
Beautiful 17th century dwellings, a number of crosses (at the entrances to the village or in the surrounding countryside), an old windmill or even the sculpture of the Sacré-Cœur, at the exit of the village towards Saint-Chinian, are still to be mentioned. In bronze, the latter represents the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by the soldier's lance. This monument was the starting point for processions…
Then head to the north-east of the small town and the Castigno castle. The oldest parts of the building date from the 12th century, built on Roman bases and then owned by the Knights of the Order of Malta. The estate was bought in 2007 and it is now the nerve center of a wine tourism complex encompassing vineyards as well as restaurants, lodges and high-end shops constituting a de facto village within the village (private homes having also been bought and then renovated). Purple-colored signage and decorations connect the components of the “Castigno village”… All information on +33 4 67 24 26 41. In 2018, the whole was completed by the construction of a winery designed by the architect Lionel Jadot, on the edge of the town, in the place called Villespassans. Covered with cork oak bark, the monolith-shaped building also evokes in its shape a bottle placed in the middle of the vines. Welcome and visit with tasting. Information on +33 4 67 24 43 03.
This overview must finally include the so-called Paris art gallery, in the heart of the village, which presents exhibitions and performances by artists from the region in the summer. Contact 03 4 67 38 08 35.
For hikers, the vineyards and woods in the town are ideal for beautiful horseback riding: contact the Horse Club equestrian center on +33 6 46 49 02 86. walkers and mountain bikers are also at the party. In addition to the heritage elements already mentioned, they can discover via marked paths the wine-growing plain dotted with capitelles (the old dry stone shelters of shepherds and winegrowers), bucolic waterways, but also protected ponds for their biodiversity.
Larger loops finally connect Assignan to Saint-Chinian but also to the Canal du Midi and its "velorail", a dozen kilometers south of the town.
Maps and information from the tourist office on +33 4 67 23 02 21.
The last Saturday in June, on the square in front of the town hall, Occitan festival with concerts and Saint-Jean bonfires.
Exposition "Résonance Contrariée"
- From 31 may to 23 june 2024
- Rue de Paris
- Sculptor Jean-Louis Gourreau opens the season on June 1 with "Résonance contrariée"
Exposition de Michèle Arellano
- From 28 june to 21 july 2024
- Rue de Paris
- Michèle Arellano follows with a retrospective entitled "Yesterday and Today". It will bring together works inspired by her many stays abroad.
Concert à la Galerie rue de Paris
- On 6 july 2024
- Rue de Paris
- Mediterranean music" concert with guitar, percussion and vocals
Exposition de Lisa Rigendinger
- From 26 july to 18 august 2024
- Rue de Paris
- Lisa Rigendinger will be exhibiting her paintings at "Les couleurs de la garrigue".
Concert à la Galerie rue de Paris
- On 27 july 2024
- Rue de Paris
- Concert by Pierre Charial on barrel organ
Exposition de Serge Bonnet
- From 23 august to 15 september 2024
- Rue de Paris
- The season comes to a close in mid-September with Serge Bonnet ? S "L ? ici et l ? ailleurs" (Here and Away), paintings that serve the imagination and open the door to the other side.
