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Saissac

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Aude

Saissac is a town in Aude, in the Occitanie region, 20 km northeast of Castelnaudary, on the edge of the Tarn department.

Its territory of 57 km² extends from 166 to 742 m above sea level, located on the foothills of the Montagne Noire, within the natural region of Cabardès. The village itself is established at some 450 m above sea level, overlooking the Lauragais plain and the Canal du Midi.

The town is also crossed by several rivers including the Lampy.

Its history is closely linked to that of its Cathar castle, erected from the 10th century. The surrounding village, which was fortified, suffered for a time from the Wars of Religion, but thanks to the development of many mills, Saissac from the Middle Ages was renowned for its textile craft units: in the 18th century there were up to 75 loom owned by 23 manufacturers.

The impressive remains of the castle, the picturesque heritage of the village which now has nearly 1000 inhabitants, its preserved environment and very focused on the development of rivers and dams make it a popular stopover or even a popular place to stay.

Geographical information

MunicipalitySaissac
Postcode11310
Latitude43.3592330 (N 43° 21’ 33”)
Longitude2.1691060 (E 2° 10’ 9”)
AltitudeFrom 166m to 742m
Surface area57.03 km²
Population942 inhabitants
Density16 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureCarcassonne (26 km, 30 min)
Insee code11367
IntercommunalityCC de la Montagne Noire
DepartmentAude
TerritoryLanguedoc-Roussillon
RegionOccitanie

Nearest cities & towns

Saint-Denis6.5 km (9 min)
Villemagne7.7 km (12 min)
Cenne-Monestiés7.8 km (12 min)
Carlipa9.1 km (15 min)
Montolieu9.2 km (13 min)
Fontiers-Cabardès9.9 km (15 min)
Arfons10 km (14 min)
Lacombe10.8 km (17 min)
Brousses-et-Villaret10.8 km (17 min)
Villespy10.8 km (18 min)
Saint-Martin-le-Vieil10.9 km (14 min)
Les Cammazes11 km (14 min)
Moussoulens12.4 km (16 min)
Cuxac-Cabardès12.6 km (22 min)

Things to see and do

The castle of Saissac is the major element of the municipal heritage.

Integrated into the dense network of Cathar castles, built from the 10th century, its vocation was to monitor the plain and the axis connecting Castelnaudary to Carcassonne. The lords of Saissac rallied around Simon de Montfort at the start of the Crusade against the Albigenses (13th century) then the imposing fortress was altered at the beginning of the 16th century to house a comfortable residence. However, a few decades later, during the Wars of Religion, its defenses and artillery were modernized.

From 1604, the castle became the seat of a marquisate belonging to the House of Luynes. Confiscated during the Revolution, the castle is sold and partly dismantled. Its remains dominating the plain are nonetheless always impressive (square towers, sections of surrounding walls, elements of a keep, watchtowers, turrets). Now belonging to the town, the castle has been secured and has been open to the public since 2000. Rooms have been reconstructed in the spirit of the 16th century. The building thus houses a museum dedicated in particular to the "treasure" unearthed in 1979: a collection of 2000 denarii dating from the end of the 13th century!

Open every day from April to October, as well as on weekends and during school holidays in February, March, November and December. Closed in January. Entrance: 3 and 5 euros. Information on +33 4 68 24 46 01.

In addition to the parish church of Saint-Michel, a number of fountains and washhouses, the village is still dotted with defensive elements (elements of the surrounding wall, towers - one of them having become the bell tower of the church -, doors) which do not lack nobility and always seem to watch over the villagers.

We will not yet forget to mention exceptional homes: the Hôtel des Saptes, for example, built in the 17th century by a member of this family who made his fortune in textiles and whose descendants became magistrates.

The Soldano house, then, which for its part dates from the 13th century and is a rare example of civil architecture of this period in the region.

Always within the framework of the discovery of the rich inheritance of Saissac, direction then the developments carried out on the rivers.

This is the case of the "béal" of Saissac, a canal built in the Middle Ages to allow the establishment of mills (millers or paper makers) and water the gardens. Two kilometers long, it partly captures the water from the courses of the Vernassonne and the Aiguebelle.

This hydrographic wealth with rivers descending from the Mountain has also caused the development of dam lakes (Cammazes lakes, Lampy basin) and the original Rigole de la Montagne, a channel supposed to collect water from the rivers upstream to supply the Canal du Midi (17th and 18th centuries).

Like the Lampy basin, the Rigole is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Canal du Midi.

The countryside surrounding the village therefore presents a singular aspect, always wild in places, and at the same time as tamed by the man via these installations… The whole remains nevertheless green and favorable to the leisures.

Thus, at the level of the Lampy basin, a vast 3 hectare space known as Liberty also acts as a leisure center: you can observe the facilities (béal, canal, dams) while enjoying sports grounds and areas. of children's games. A botanical trail including 200 different species of trees, shrubs, flowers (including protected orchids) is also available to visitors and vacationers. The bodies of water are rich in trout or crayfish, ducks are legion, and the site is therefore also suitable for observing a variety of fauna. In summer, activities and workshops are scheduled for children. Information on +33 4 68 76 64 90 or +33 4 68 24 40 22.

This wooded and sometimes steep area is also popular with hikers, especially since the GR 7 which connects the Ballon d'Alsace to Andorra passes through the town. Maps and information on +33 4 68 76 64 90.

Finally, let us point out between the village and the lake of Lampy, at the level of the hamlet of Picarel, the breeding farm specializing in deer within an area of ​​45 hectares of meadows. There are some 80 deer, hinds, fawns and bridles. Visit reserved only for groups. Information on +33 4 68 24 44 08.

Places of interest

Leisure centres
Monuments

Events and festivities

Photos

Saissac castle, Cathar castle
Saissac castle, Cathar castle
See photo

Weather

Tuesday 19 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 22°C
Day
Night
Wednesday 20 march
Min. 12°C - Max. 17°C
Day
Night
Thursday 21 march
Min. 11°C - Max. 22°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Visit an essential oil distillery
Arts and Crafts4 € to 8 € Castelnaudary (18 km)
Seated amma massage
Well-being15 € to 35 € Mazamet (22 km)
Canyoning in Montagne Noire
Sports sensations42 € to 69 € Mazamet (22 km)
Ticket - Castle and ramparts of the city of Carcassonne (40 minutes from Toulouse)
Culture and education11 € Carcassonne (23 km)
Rafting on the River Aude
Sports sensations35 € to 40 € Alet-les-Bains (41 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Versants of the Hard
HikeIntermediate5:30Cuxac-Cabardès (9.3 km)
Carbonéral Path
HikeIntermediate5:15Labruguière (21 km)
Historical route
HikeEasy20 minLabruguière (22 km)
From the city of Carcassonne to Lake La Cavayère
Cycling itineraryEasy5:00Carcassonne (22 km)
Haut-Languedoc - Passa Païs Greenway
Cycling itineraryEasy6:00Mazamet (22 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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