Niort-de-Sault

Niort -de -Sault ( okcitanisch: Niort de Saut ) is a commune with 25 residents (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Aude department in the Languedoc- Roussillon region. The place was called in the Middle Ages Aniort.

Location

Niort -de -Sault is a remote mountain village located about 81 km ( driving distance ) south-west of Carcassonne and about 56 kilometers south-west of Limoux in the valley of the river Rebenty. The cantonal capital Belcaire is located about 10 kilometers to the west.

Demographics

In 1830 the city had 584 inhabitants.

Economy

The town is still dominated by the forestry. Livestock ( sheep ) is rarely operated. In the late 20th century, tourism has been added as an economic factor, but the gradual extinction of the remote community seems to go on unabated.

History

The viscounty Sault was created in 1013; the viscount was called at the same time - according to the place where his family castle stood - Baron de Niort. Niort is completed early in 1060 at the Crown of Aragon, but remained largely independent.

Blanche de Laurac performed the marriage of their daughter Esclarmonde with Guillaume de Niort faith of the Cathars one. While Guillaume faced largely alien or hostile to the new faith, his children were - especially Bernard Othon de Niort educated accordingly by the mother - believing, if not fanatical Cathars.

Niort was as far off that it was spared in the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229) of attacks and destruction - on the contrary it was Bernard- Othon, who repeatedly sought the confrontation. Louis IX. However, had the final defeat of the - repeated outbreaks and caring for unrest - made ​​Catharism and so handed Geraud de Niort, the brother of Bernard- Othons, in an act of submission in 1240 all the family possessions to the French king.

However, the disputes between the viscounty Niort and the French crown was no end, until in 1255 - eleven years after the fall of Montsegur - the castle of the town was conquered and thus the very last refuge of the Cathars was excavated. A few years later ordered Louis IX. the demolition and destruction of all the castles in the Pays de Sault in just Niort remained - because of its strategic importance close to Aragon - except by the command. The end of the Castle of Niort, came in 1573, when a Protestant mob put the long- abandoned castle in ruins.

Attractions

Castle

Other

• Built in the 17th century, new castle (Château Neuf de Niort ) could be due to its two towers - one square, the other round - confused from a distance almost with a church; up close but you can see the many windows. It is owned by the city and served temporarily as a dormitory.
• The Église de la Nativity of Our Lady was built in the 19th century and has since then served as a parish church of the small community.

Personalities

• Bernard Othon de Niort (c. 1201 † 1245? ), Cathars, Knights and Faydit