Early Records:

Documented as Aquaviva in 994, linked to an exchange between the Abbot of Caunes and Viscount of Carcassonne.

Medieval Role:

A minor feudal holding, later tied to wine production (Minervois AOC) and Cathar history.

Heritage:

Includes a 16th-century church (Saint Alexandre) and a 13th-century stately tower.

The nearby River Cesse has a mischievous habit: it disappears underground for about 20 km! Locals joke that it’s the laziest river in France because it only shows up when it rains heavily. The middle section of the river is dry two-thirds of the year, leaving visitors scratching their heads while farmers shrug and say, "It’s just napping in the limestone"

The village’s name means "Living Waters" (Aigas Vivas in Occitan), which is hilariously ironic given the river’s vanishing act

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