Bazas

Bazas ( Basats on gascognisch ) is a French town with 4709 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the Gironde department in the region of Aquitaine.

The name derives from civitas Bazas basatica ago, "City of Vasaten ". Your ancient name was Cossium, a Latinization of the Aquitanian * koiz, gascognisch COC hill.

Geography

Bazas located 15 km south of Langon and 60 km south-east of Bordeaux in the rolling hills at the foot of the forests of the Landes de Gascogne and is crossed by the river Beuve.

History

The existence of a fortified settlement at this point has been proven since the beginning of the Iron Age. Owning a wall with monumental gates gave her soon have a military significance, and a certain superiority.

Bazas is located on the road to Santiago de Compostela and was, until the late 18th century bishop's seat. As the seat of a Präsidialgerichts it also had central administrative and legal functions, so that it could establish itself very quickly as the most influential place in the region. His reputation is owed ​​the visit so illustrious personalities such as Richard the Lionheart and the Emperor Charles V.

During the Hundred Years' War was fought Bazas between France and England. Since 1441 it belonged again to France.

1562 during the Wars of Religion conquered the Protestant military leader Durfort ( Duras ) the city. He left the Catholic priest cut the lips.

Louis XIV stayed on his return from Saint -Jean -de -Luz, where he had married Maria Theresa of Spain, in the city ..

Bazas received from this golden time outstanding buildings. Among them, the former Gothic cathedral of St. Jean -Baptiste de Bazas is the most important, it is classified as a protected historical monument since 1840. It was built between the 11th and 14th century and rebuilt in the years 1583-1655 again.

Bazas to 1923 was also the name of arrondissements, when it was resolved in favor of the District Langon, which also includes the Arrondissemen La Reole was added beaten.

See also: List of bishops of Bazas

Economy and infrastructure

In Bazas a breed of cattle is bred under the name Bazadaise, the city maintains a slaughterhouse. In the region of agriculture and cattle breeding; the forests in the southeast enable a large timber industry. Bazas has a number of industrial companies in the areas of metal, wood, food, ceramics and textiles.

Culture and sights

At the central square is the Cathedral Saint -Jean -Baptiste (John the Baptist ). This 83 meter long structure as a monument historique subject to the listed building and is since 1998 part of the world cultural heritage of UNESCO " Camino de Santiago in France."

The cathedral was built in the 13th and 14th centuries, after the model of the great northern French cathedrals. Your original call they reached there by a preserved relic by the blood of John the Baptist. In 1561 it was destroyed by the Huguenots, the triple portal, one of the finest examples of sculpture of the Gironde, but was saved from destruction. With money from the French Parliament and with great dedication to the Bishop Arnaud de Pontac the Church 1583-1635 could be rebuilt.

In the time of the French Revolution, the John - relic was lost. The cloister was destroyed, as well as furniture and choir screen. The latter could be replaced by donations in the 19th century, most notably an altar from the Cistercian Abbey of Rivet.

The central portal shows the last judgment, and the history of John the Baptist. The interior of the building is remarkable for its long and narrow nave.

Additional points of interest:

• The bishop's garden with remains from the period of the Iron Age to the 15th century
• The Breche, a postern
• The sultan gardens with a rose garden
• The Gisquet Gate
• The former Präsidialgericht
• The market hall in city hall
• The racecourse from the 19th century
• The Justice Palace from the 19th century, until 2007 the seat of a district court (Tribunal d'instance )
• The Ursuline convent from the 17th century

Sister City

• Salvatierra - Agurain in the Basque province of Alava in Spain

Personalities

• Ausonius (c. 310, † 393 or 394), late antique high Gallo-Roman civil servant and poet
• Clémens V. (* 1250-1265; † April 20, 1314 ), Pope
• Arnaud de Pontac (1572-1605), Bishop of Bazas
• Anatole de Monzie (1876-1947), politician
• François Mauriac (1885-1970), writer of Bordeaux, had strong ties to the southern Gironde. In his novel The act of Thérèse Desqueyroux he describes Bazas and his court.