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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The former silo of Rieux-Minervois is a circular structure located in the Aude department, in the Occitanie region. Built on a circular plane with an internal diameter of approximately 5.16 metres, it consists of a truncated base topped by a cylindrical part and covered with a spherical cap. The construction uses various techniques: large irregular apparatus for the cone, small rubble for the cylindrical part, and flat stones for the vault. A peripheral terracotta bench lined the bottom, while a narrow corridor and a hatch at the top of the vault allowed access.

Listed as historical monuments in 1963, this silo evokes in its form the traditional ice or silos, although its precise dating remains uncertain. Its architecture, with its three distinct zones and various materials, reflects local know-how. The exact location is indicated as 13 Rue du Moulin in Rieux-Minervois, in a rural context where this type of construction was probably used for food storage or ice conservation, essential activities for agricultural communities in the region.

The monument, although little documented on its exact use, illustrates the ingenuity of medieval or pre-industrial utility buildings in Occitanie. Its registration in 1963 underscores its heritage interest, despite the absence of sources indicating its origin or sponsor. The structure, now protected, offers a material testimony of conservation and storage practices in the Minervois, an area marked by a long wine and agricultural tradition.

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