Aigues-Vives (; ) is a commune in the Aude department in the Occitanie region of southern France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Aigues-Vivois or Aigues-Vivoises.
Geography
Localisation
Aigues-Vives is located in the north-east of Aude department in the Minervois area some 50 km west by north-west of Narbonne and 14 km east by north-east from Carcassonne. It is traversed by Highway D206 going north-east from Badens through the heart of the commune and the town and continues north-east out of the commune to Rieux-Minervois. Highway D57 also traverses the commune from Laure-Minervois in the north intersecting the Highway D206 in the town of Aigues-Vives and continuing south to join the east-west D610 highway.
The commune is entirely farmland except for the town and a hill on the western edge. There are a few scattered buildings but no villages or towns other than Aigues-Vives. The Ruisseau de Puits flows from the hill in the west to north of the town where it joins the Canal Nord. There are a few other streams in the commune including the Reals, the Mirausse, the Genet, the Mijane, the Canet, the Neuf, the Canal Sud, and the Rigole d'Aigues-Vives.
Neighbouring communes and villages
History
The first document attesting to the existence of Aigues-Vives was transcribed from the Latin Aquaviva in 994, although some say 993. It was an exchange between Udulgarius, Abbot of Caunes (Minervois) and Roger Trencavel, Viscount of Carcassonne.
Heraldry
Administration
List of Successive Mayors of Aigues-Vives
Mayors from 1929
Population
Economy
Viticulture: Minervois AOC, Coteaux de peyriac, and Languedoc AOC. Its territory is planted with olive trees, apple trees, and rice.
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage
The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: A Tile factory (1835) The Cooperative Wine Cellar (1937) The Wine distillery (1889) Land with archaeological remains at Pataran cemetery The War memorial at Route de Badens (20th century)
Other sites of interest
The Étang de Marseillette (Marseillette Pond) is adjacent to the village of Aigues-Vives but dried up in the 19th century. This depression of about 2000 hectares is irrigated by the Aude. The land is covered with crops mainly vineyards and apple orchards. The area of the dried-up pond of Marseillette is next to the Aigues-Vives houses. A stately tower of the 13th century next to the church. The natural bridge of Saint-Jean.
Religious heritage
The commune has one religious building that is registered as an historical monument: The Church of Saint Alexandre (1530) has a tower that is a registered historical monument, a Gothic chevet and a tower adjoining the church (which serves as a bell tower and whose bell dates to 1562). The Church contains one item that is registered as an historical object: A Chalice with Paten (19th century) A Discoidal Steles can be seen under the Porch of the church. The Cemetery contains 2 Funerary Steles (Middle Ages)
Local life
In 1902, thanks to the Mayor, Eugene Ressier, Aigues-Vives became an electrified village. The STMF (Société Méridionale de Transport de Force), which was founded in 1900 by Joachim Estrade, installed electricity in the village.
Celebration and culture
Each year on the second Saturday in October, the "Cavinades" festival is held where winemakers offer tastings of their wine - white, rosé or red from the wine country Coteaux de Peyriac and Minervois.
On the following day each year there is also a celebration for apples, wine and rice.