Bélesta combines wine, medieval history and impressive evidence of a far-reaching past. Those wishing to rent a holiday apartment for their trip can keep Bélesta in mind as a destination and discover the different facets of the village.
Wine and Local Places
Domaine Riberach’s Wine Safari is a 2.5-hour 4x4 tour through the area around Bélesta. The itinerary includes a cellar tour and a tasting of Riberach wines. Château de Caladroy also offers direct sales and wine tastings at the estate.
In the village of Bélesta, the former cooperative winery has been transformed into a venue offering high-quality accommodation and dining. At the same time, it preserves its wine-growing and historical character.
Culture and History
The Château-Musée de Bélesta is housed in a medieval castle dating from the 12th to 13th century. An exhibition area is dedicated to the Scottish architect, designer and painter Charles Rennie Macintosh.
The history of Château de Caladroy began in the 11th century. At that time, Seigneur Adroario built a fortified medieval castle there to defend the border between the Kingdom of France and the kings of Mallorca.
The surrounding area also preserves traces of much older eras. The archaeological discovery in the prehistoric cave of La Cauna was a collective burial containing around 30 people and intact grave goods dating from around 4500 BC. The Dolmen du Moli del Vent is an exceptionally well-preserved Bronze Age burial site, dated to around 2500 BC.
The Saint-Barthélémy-de-Jonquerolles site includes a pre-Romanesque church and former outbuildings that were used to store supplies.
Trails and Landscape
The Parcours d’Eau is an easy 6.8-kilometre circular trail starting in Bélesta. Along the route, three information panels explain the history and operation of the canal and mill.
The Parcours d’Eau follows an old canal to a mill and brings to life the historic water-management heritage that shaped the agricultural and rural landscape. À travers les âges has a different character: the trail follows roads and paths through distinctly undulating terrain with ascents, descents, and fast and technical sections.
