Emerging from the vineyards for sparkling Blanquette wine, the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Hilaire is situated at about thirty kilometres from Carcassonne, and ten kilometres from Limoux. Located in the picturesque valley of the Lauquet, the abbey was founded during the 8th century. According to tradition the abbey was the birthplace of the Blanquette de Limoux. During the 16th century, the monks elaborated a semisparkling wine which has become famous around the world.