MidCanal - Le Somail - Amphoralis
"Amphoralis" - Musée des Potiers
One of the largest sites in Europe, certainly the largest in France. It was near here (Narbonne) shortly before the birth of Christ that the Romans established their provincial capital, and in Sallèlles that the clay necessary for the production of the amphoræ, so essential for transporting the wine that was the region's new industry. This industry continued for three centuries, the larger kilns were capable of firing up to a thousand amphoræ at a time, the process took several days. Amphoralis at Salleles d'Aude
A dozen kilns have been discovered on the site, which covers a very large area, complete with living areas and the quarry. Each year around the middle of August a reproduction of one of the original Roman updraught kilns is constructed to fire hand made pots. The museum which now stands above a section of the site, is magnificent and well worth a visit
The village of Sallèlles d'Aude has many other features worth a visit, the museum of old Sallèlles, where they have a collection of more than a thousand hand tools from bygone ages, the old château, with superb Renaissance decorations. The village straddles the Canal de Jonction, the canal which joins the historic Canal du Midi to the river Aude, after the river the Canal de la Robine leads to Port la Nouvelle via Narbonne.
| Région: | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Département: | Aude |
| Commune: | Ginestas |
| Photographer: | Malcolm Reynard - personal website |
More about Languedoc-Rousillion Wines.
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