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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Castelnau-de-Montmiral

Castelnau-de-Montmiral (French pronunciation: [kastɛlno mɔ̃miʁal]; Occitan: Castèlnòu de Montmiralh) is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.

Demography

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 1,215—    
1975 1,037−2.24%
1982 958−1.13%
1990 910−0.64%
1999 895−0.18%
2007 946+0.70%
2012 1,005+1.22%
2017 1,033+0.55%
Source: INSEE

Geography

The Vère flows westward through the commune.

History

While traces of activities dating back to the Bronze Age such as dolmens and oppidums can be seen in the nearby forest La Grésigne, the village was founded as an albigensian bastide (fortified new town) in 1222 by Raymond VII, count of Toulouse, under the name “Castellum Novum Montis Mirabilis”.

During the subsequent years, the village remained an impressive stronghold. In 1345, during the Hundred Years' War, when Edward the Black Prince invaded the Albigeois, he reportedly left without besieging the village… Later, it served as a shelter for Catholics who were fleeing from Gaillac because of the Wars of Religion. King Louis XIII visited Castelnau in June 1622, and stayed in the “Tonnac” house.

Remarkable sites and monuments

Reliquary cross, early 14th century.

Remarkable sites and monuments in Castelnau-de-Montmiral include :

  • the village itself, listed among «Les Plus Beaux Villages de France »
  • the central square surrounded by corbel vaults, with an ancient pillory
  • the Notre Dame de l’Assomption church, with a 16th-century bell
  • ancient stone houses and half-timbered houses
  • the ramparts
  • the Reliquary cross, created in 1341 by a goldsmith in Albi
  • the nearby forest La Grésigne

Cultural references

“One evening, a small, jolting, overcrowded bus took us to Castelnau-de-Montmiral; it was raining; as we got out on the square surrounded by corbel vaults, Sartre abruptly told that he was fed up with being mad.” ("Un soir, un petit autobus cahotant et bondé nous amena à Castelnau de Montmiral; il pleuvait; en descendant sur la place entourée d’arcades, Sartre me dit abruptement qu’il en avait assez d’être fou.")

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE