Oupia: Vineyards, Murals and Village History

Oupia between the Serre hills and the plain

Oupia lies at the foot of the Serre hills, surrounded by vineyards. The old village overlooks the plain, and Oupia offers a panorama of Beaufort. These details give the village several distinct landscape features: its location at the foot of the Serre hills, the view from the old village over the plain, and the panorama of Beaufort. Together, they provide a setting for choosing where to visit that is distinct from Oupia’s murals and historic buildings.

Murals with different themes

The mural “APOCALYPSE WINE” by PHAZES, created in 2021, is located at the former washhouse in Oupia. It depicts changes in climate and nature in a futuristic way. “L'ANCIENNE GARE” takes up a different theme: this mural by Raphaël Poron, created in 2024, recreates the former Aude tramway. It served the villages of the Minervois along the route from Lézignan to Carcassonne.

The two works have different emphases: “APOCALYPSE WINE” focuses on changes in climate and nature, while “L'ANCIENNE GARE” focuses on the former tramway and its connection to the villages of the Minervois. The murals thus encompass both a futuristic theme and a depiction of regional transport history. Those interested in Oupia’s cultural side will find two clearly distinct subjects here.

Le Bosquet and the former water tower

Le Bosquet is situated above the village around the former water tower. At the former water tower, the village children, under the direction of Raphaël Poron, decorated the concrete of the former water reservoir. Le Bosquet also has a zip line, a hut, and wooden tables and benches. This place thus brings together an artistic design and several practical facilities. The design relates to the former water reservoir; the installed features form a distinct part of the site.

This focus adds another example of local artistic design to the mural themes: here, the focus is not a mural but the decorated former water reservoir. Together with the facilities mentioned, it offers a different way to explore Oupia than through its landscape, tramway history, or church architecture.

Church history and traces of other periods

Remains of two successive construction phases of the Church of Saint-Étienne were unearthed at Place du Fort. First, a Carolingian church with a flat-ended chancel was built; this was followed by a late Romanesque or Gothic church dating from the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th century. This sequence distinguishes two earlier building phases. The Church of Saint-Étienne was rebuilt in the Gothic style at the end of the 19th century. The church also contains a carved altar support from the Visigothic period.

Another historical landmark is the Château d'Oupia, whose origins date back to the 12th century. Together with the construction phases of Saint-Étienne, it offers a glimpse into different historical periods: the unearthed church remains range from the Carolingian to the late Romanesque or Gothic period, while the château also dates back to the 12th century. The altar support adds an object from the Visigothic period to these architectural features.

Which side of Oupia interests you

The different themes make it easy to get a sense of the destination: the vineyards, Serre hills, plain, and Beaufort shape the landscape; the two murals focus on climate and nature, and on the former tramway, respectively; and Le Bosquet combines a decorated water reservoir with the features installed there. The Church of Saint-Étienne and the Château d'Oupia offer historical points of interest from different periods. Depending on whether you are most interested in the landscape, art, or architectural history, you can explore a different side of Oupia.

For the broader travel overview: Hérault.