Castelnau de Montmiral

Castelnau-de-Montmiral (castellum novum montis mirabilis, « the new castle on the hill from where you can watch the area ») is a fortified bastide town, founded in 1222 by Raymond VII, count of Toulouse, in order to replace the fortresses which were destroyed by the crusades against the albigenses. In fact, historically one shoud distinguish between "bastides" and "castelnaus". A castelnau was a fortified town, dependend from the feodal lord in his nearby castle, whereas a bastide was a fortified town that was granted immediately an independent city council. Montmiral was a castelnau, not a bastide. However, at an early stage the castelnaus would be granted an own city council, and the difference between bastides and castelnaus vanished. Remark: bastides and castelnaus from the south-west are small towns, contrary to the Provence, where « bastide » means a fortified farm.

Castelnau-de-Montmiral has a rather turbulent history, similarly to the majority of bastides. In 1355 English soldiers tried to take the city, whereas during the wars of religion it was the turn of the huguenots to attack Castelnau, a catholic bastion.The city walls were no defence against the 1628 plague: the population was decimated.

The structure of the center of Castelnau de Montmiral has not been altered much troughout the centuries, although the city wall have been demolished. The oldest buildings are from the XVI & XVII centuries. The market place (La Place des Arcades) still presents a range of old-style houses with archways, around a central square. The Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church is well preserved; inside you will find the pride of Castelnau, a XIV century relic (Armagnac cross). Few remains of the city walls: a gate (La Porte des Garrics) and a tower (la tour de Toulze).

Castelnau-de-Montmiral is one of the most beautifull villages in France. It has not fully 1000 habitants, but is one of the largest villages in the country, thanks to the 3000 hectares Gresigne Forest. Most of its hamlets were once independent villages: a church or chapel is the only testimony of that: Saint-Martin, Saint-Jérôme, Saint-Marcial, Brugnac, Gradille. And further the village counts some manors, all of them in private hands: Corduriès, Fézembat, Mazières, Meyragues.