It is very pleasant indeed to stroll around the village particularly in the early evening when people stand around the square or in front of their houses chatting.

The Chateau’s Portal

The Chateau: its dungeon dominates the village as you come from Ornaisons or St Andre.

The present church replaced one which was too far out of the village and often looted. It  was built on the site of an old run-down house. The advantages were obvious, the old house had a bell tower and of course access was much easier than having to cross the stream which often flooded.

The land around Bizanet is made up of marshy areas and there’s a small lake. When it rains the frogs have a field day in the stagnant water! But we won’t go so far as to say that the frog petrified in the font in St. Paul’s in Narbonne came all the way from Bizanet!

The church was completed and consecrated on 29^th September 1756.

 

The church and the fountain

Rue du chêne

Fountains:

The water from the fountain comes from the Naissant and flows constantly providing welcome refreshment for walkers and cyclists.

The wash-house:

The water here is also supplied by the Naissant and the wash-house is still used by many villagers who like to wash their clothes by hand and catch up on the latest gossip. A  film crew recently in Bizanet monopolised this cool, shady spot.

The streets:

The little streets in the vicinity of the church and the square are perhaps particularly interesting. Several old doors and doorways depict imaginative, ancient sculpted arches showing for example frogs’ feet, or sheaves of wheat. This has fascinated the older folk and has been the subject of discussion for many years.

The wash-house Large basin

The wash-house Small basin

The wash-house during the making of the film : “ the kiss under the clock” 1997

Chapel Chefdebien

The old church:

In the present cemetery you can find the remnants of the old Chateau d’Aval built during the middle ages. A very thick section of wall and its wide opening are what’s left of the Chateau. The 12^th century parish church of Bizanet, St. Pierre aux Liens, situated to the right of the cemetery was bought back by Lord Chefdebien when the new church was built. Today only a part of it remains. Above the doorway are the Chefdebien coat of arms“ d’azur a la fasce d’argent”.

 

The priory of Saint Amans

A trompe l’oeil of the house