Baraigne

Baraigne is a southern French village with 161 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011 ) in the Aude department in the Languedoc- Roussillon region.

Location

Baraigne located in the heart of the old cultural landscape of Lauragais at an altitude of about 260 meters above sea level. inst and about 60 km ( driving distance ) north- west of Carcassonne and about 14 kilometers west of Castelnaudary. The cantonal capital of Salles- sur -l'Hers is located about ten kilometers to the southwest.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had at times almost 250 inhabitants. The mechanization of agriculture and the consequent loss of jobs since then led to a significant decline in population.

Economy

The surroundings of the town is still dominated by agriculture, which in the late Middle Ages and early modern times mainly on the cultivation of woad ( pastel) concentrated. The import of indigo led from the 18th century to a gradual economic decline. In the late 20th century, tourism has been added in the form of apartment rentals ( gîtes ) as an economic factor.

History

In 1155 the village was first mentioned in records under the name Varanano; In 1206 he appears in another document under its current name. In the 13th century the place was a local center of Catharism; in 1242, here the attackers gathered against the inquisitors of Avignonet- Lauragais. The subsequent reprisals were terrible - among other things dug up from the local bodies known heretic to be burned at the cemetery. In the 15th century began in Baraigne with the cultivation of woad ( pastel), so many places in Lauragais, which was also called, Cockaigne ' ( pays de cocagne ), were prosperous. In the years 1473 and 1480/1, there were outbreaks of plague. The second half of the 16th century was marked by religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants - in 1572 burned much of the churches in the wider area of ​​Mas -Saintes - Puelles, the regional center of the Protestant movement. In Baraigne a part of the nave and bell tower were destroyed.

Attractions

• The small Romanesque church of Baraigne was built after the destruction of the Year in 1572 and again provided with a bell gable. The outside is as well preserved inside the area of ​​the apse, outside powerful pilasters and an equally large arched frieze shows below which act as cut into the masonry due to lack of accompanying columns the three windows; inside can be found, however, a richer architectural structure with three-quarter columns and to set smaller small columns resting blind arcades. The small church was already recognized in 1908 as a monument historique.
• Although the Castle of Baraigne with its corner turrets and bay windows still shows medieval military aspects, it is dated to the 16th or 17th century due to its large windows. The building is privately owned; it is recognized as a monument historique since 1948.
• On a hill are the ruins of a windmill that was until the early 20th century in operation.
• At the local cemetery several discoid grave steles were discovered in 1993 in excavation, vaguely reminiscent of the well named and date -less and non- perforated Basque hilarris.

Château de Baraigne

Windmill

Discoid grave steles