Terra Vinea

Om museet

Terra Vinea occupies a former gypsum mine in Portel-des-Corbières. Gypsum extraction began in 1807 as an open-cast operation, after the farmer Jacques Foulquier was granted permission. Underground extraction began in 1923 and, for nearly 200 years, tonnes of gypsum were extracted from the mine's some 35 kilometres of galleries.

The quarry closed in 1992 for economic reasons. The village winegrowers then decided to continue the miners' adventure: they turned these exceptionally large galleries into a wine-ageing cellar and a discovery site. Terra Vinea opened to the public in August 1994.

Today, a small train takes visitors to the entrance of the mine. The walking tour continues along about 800 m of galleries, 80 m deep and at 16 °C all year round. It passes between the ageing casks of the Chai Cathédrale to a reconstruction of a Roman wine villa, a medieval banquet and a museum of vineyard tools and machinery, with a sound and light show. A tasting of local wines concludes the visit.

Højdepunkter

• Visit through 800 m of galleries in a former gypsum mine, 80 m underground
• Chai Cathédrale with sound and light show
• Reconstructions of a Roman wine villa and a medieval banquet
• Museum of vineyard tools and machinery
• Tasting of local wines included
• Small train to the entrance of the mine

Permanent udstilling

• Visite de Terra Vinea : l'histoire de la vigne et du vin – Underground route through a former gypsum mine, with historical reconstructions, a museum of vineyard tools and a sound and light show.

Grundlagt

1994

Entrépriser & rabatter

Payment on site in cash, by bank card (except American Express) or with ANCV Chèques-Vacances (no change given). Groups of more than 20 people must book by email; a guided tour in French is then compulsory.

Tilgængelighed

• Kørestolsvenlig: findes ikke
• Elevator: ingen oplysninger
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt: ingen oplysninger
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

The visit is not accessible to wheelchair users: access to the former mine involves 120 steps, which can only be descended; the rest of the route (about 1 km) is at ground level. Several reserved parking spaces are near the entrance, and free toilets accessible to people with reduced mobility are available.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Barnevognsvenlig
• Puslerum

The visit is suitable for the whole family, with no minimum age and a safe route. About 80% of the route is accessible with a pushchair; only the start has stairs. A baby carrier is recommended. A baby changing table is available.

Transport & parkering

Terra Vinea is 15 minutes from Narbonne and 5 minutes from the Réserve africaine de Sigean, near the A9 (exit 39 Sigean). If the GPS does not know the site, enter “15 chemin des Plâtrières, 11490 Portel-des-Corbières”. A small train links the reception building with the entrance to the mine.

Service & spisesteder

• Restaurant
• Museumsbutik

Le Grenache restaurant on site, lunch service only. Souvenir shop with a selection of wines and regional products. Free toilets.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Firmaarrangementer

Op til 160 personer.

The Le Belvédère hall, 200 m², with a 280° panoramic view over the Corbières, equipped with tables, chairs, a video projector and a sound system. Suitable for meetings, seminars and team-building; catering on site, guided tour and tasting optional.

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