Paziols

Paziols has the second largest amount of vineyards contributing to the Mont Tauch Cooperative. Previously, Paziols had its own wine cooperative but in 1993 joined Tuchan to create the new Mont Tauch Cooperative.

This picturesque hilltop village is dominated by its 12th century Spanish style church, (it is named after the Spanish saint, St Felix) at one time the village fort. Paziols is built on a rocky hillside and the Verdouble river separates it from the fertile valley which streches across to Tuchan and Mont Tauch.

The Paziols Cave was built in 1914 at the start of the First World War and its terroir has long been renowned for its capacity to give wines of outstanding quality.

Paziols yesterday

Water has played an essential role in the history and architecture of the village. In fact the name Paziols comes from the latin word paludis meaning marsh and it is known that the village was once a surrounded by damp, marshland. In the middle ages, the village was owned by the Fontfroide abbey and the monks successfully drained the land by digging huge channels still in use today.

To the south of the village, the recently restored “pont romain” is a classic medieval bridge over which used to pass the road to Maury.

On the Verdouble, by the old road to Tuchan, the ancient water mill the “Moulin de la Tour” was built by the lord of Paziols, Olivier de Termes around 1230. In the middle ages, the mill was owned by the Fontfroide abbey and it became the only authorised olive mill to operate in the valley. In fact, sold to the Fontfroide abbey in 1260, Paziols remain church property until the French Revolution.

Particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, Paziols stands as the most southerly village of France, thus finding itself at the heart of the conflict with Spain. The village is sacked and burnt to the ground on several occasions, and in 1496 the villagers are taken prisoner and sent to the Roussillon just like their neighbours of Tuchan thirty years later. The Pyrénées treaty brings a degree of peace and stability to Paziols. Its economy is built around its woollen mills, wheat fields and olive groves.

As in neighbouring villages, the 19th century marks a radical change in the pattern of life. Vineyards gradually extend to land traditionally reserved for grazing and cereal crops. The olive groves, decimated by several harsh winters, lost their pre-eminent role as grapes became the most successful crops.

As Paziols entered into a new era, the changing landscape threatened many of the grazing fields and prairies used by the herds of goats and the once several thousand strong communal herd had disappeared by 1945.

Paziols vineyards

The vineyards of Paziols are planted on a variety of soils, but more specifically the hills which rise high above the village. The cobblestone soils or “Poudingues du Pilou” have made the reputation of the Paziols terroir.