Issendolus

Issendolus ( Occitan: Aissendolús ) is a southern French village with 520 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Lot in the Midi-Pyrénées region. Issendolus is part of the Regional Natural Park Causses du Quercy.

Location

Issendolus lies at an altitude of about 350 meters above sea level. inst on the southwestern edge of the Massif Central approximately on the border between the fertile region of Limargue and it is highly distinctive limestone soils of Ségala. The place is located on a side route of the Camino de Santiago ( Via Podiensis ) about halfway between Rocamadour and Gramat and Figeac; the town of Cahors is located about 63 kilometers south-west.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had at times more than 1,000 inhabitants. As a result of the phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture, the population went up since the lows in the 1960s and 1970s back.

Economy

In skin -Quercy agriculture, which included the wine until the 19th century was, for centuries, used primarily for self catering. After the phylloxera crisis in the second half of the 19th century, the wine industry in the region has been almost entirely abandoned. Today - in addition agriculture, small trade and crafts - the tourism in the form of apartment rentals ( gîtes ) a major role in the economy of the community.

History

The early history of the town is closely associated with a 13th- century pilgrim 's hospice, which was, however, during the Hundred Years War ( 1337-1453 ) and in the Huguenot wars ( 1562-1598 ) repeatedly damaged or destroyed.

After the Allied invasion in June of 1944, the SS - Division destroyed ' The Kingdom ' barns and buildings in the hamlet Gabaudet and perpetrated a massacre of the population.

Attractions

• Two Neolithic megalithic tombs ( dolmen ) are located approximately four kilometers south-west of the village in the area of ​​Domaine Gabaudet. They were classified as Monuments historiques in 1931.
• Another Dolmen (Pierre Levee ) is about 2500 meters west of the village. He is also recognized as a monument historique since 1988.
• The Pilgrim Hospital ( Couvent de l' Hôpital- Beaulieu ), founded in the early 13th century was led by St. John. After much destruction began in 1608 with the reconstruction - a new church was erected and surrounded the complex with a 715 meters long and up to seven meters high wall. Now sided up to 80 nuns to serve the sick and the dying. In February 1793, the buildings were sold and demolished as a national ( bien national). Only a few remains of the chapter house and the cloister walls are reminiscent of the once widely known beyond the region hospital, which was recognized in 1921 as a monument historique.
• The eastern parts ( apse, transept ) of the parish church of the village ( Église Saint -Julien ) are still Romanesque; the nave was extended in the 18th century on three ships. The interior shines - despite the different phases of construction - a great harmony from.
• The municipal area are over 100 megalithic tombs, field stone huts ( Caselles ), wayside crosses, etc., which can be explored on different hikes.