Aspiran buildings and ramparts

	The 13th century bell tower of the Church St Julien at sunrise. The current church on this site dates from 1145 although the bell tower is built on Romanesque remains.
The Chapel of Pénitents with the church tower behind. The inside is now a beautifully restored hall and exhibition space. The bell tower was built in 1816.
	The ramparts date from the 12th century and still enclose much of the village with the old walls forming parts of many houses. At one time Aspiran had four portes (entrances) but only these two remain.

Introduction

Aspiran is a wine village with a population of around 1250 on the western edge of the Hérault valley between Clermont l'Hérault and Pézenas.

There has been a settlement here since at least Roman times. Archaeologists have been excavating the site of France's oldest known winery dating from the 10th year AC.
Today Aspiran sits in a sea of vines along with olive, pine and oak trees.