Cahors

The French town of Cahors ( Occitan Caur ) is located in the Midi -Pyrenees and is the seat of the administration of the department of Lot. The 20,224 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) A city is also the capital of the eponymous arrondissement and the cantons Cahors Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest and Cahors Cahors Sud. Its inhabitants call themselves Cadurciens. Cahors is of particular importance as the administrative capital and is known by the same wine-growing region. The city lies on the GR 65, which largely follows the historical course of the French Road to Santiago Via Podiensis.

Geography and transport

The city is located on the southwestern edge of the Massif Central on a peninsula formed by a loop of the Lot. The loop is forced through the western edge of the Cevennes, on the steep slopes wine production. This situation has influenced the development of the city at that time. It formed easily defensible point on the ancient road to Rodez and Toulouse. The next major French cities are Toulouse (94 km ) to the south, Bordeaux (167 km) to the northwest and Montpellier ( 216 km) to the southeast.

Cahors has a small airfield ( Aerodrome de Cahors Lalbenque ) approximately 10 kilometers to the south. The nearest commercial airport is Aéroport Agen -La Garenne, which can be reached in a southwesterly direction over the D656, after about 90 kilometers of road. The company Airlinair offers daily connections to Paris -Orly. The nearest international airport is the International Airport Toulouse Blagnac. The SNCF train station of Cahors lies on the line Aubrais -Montauban and is part of the long-distance link between Paris and Toulouse. She is also the terminus of the regional routes Monsempron - Libos. The now disused line to Capdenac is now served by buses. At the French road network Cahors is connected via the A20 Paris -Toulouse.

History

The town's origins date back to the Celtic period. The tribe of Kadurker, who was then the Quercy region populated, it owes its name. In Roman times the city was called Divona Cadurcorum. This then was Cadurca and finally Cahors.

Cahors is a bishopric since the early Middle Ages and was already in the 6th century, due to its convenient, but sheltered position, a prosperous trading town. Since the 9th century Cahors was under the dukes of Toulouse.

At its highest importance that Situated on the Camino de Santiago city went on in the 13th century. At that time, Cahors was what may be surprising from today's perspective, the first bank and stock exchange center of Europe, when, settled the Lombard creditors of the bishop, who had supported the Albigensian Crusade the infamous Simon IV de Montfort with troops in the city.

A native of Cahors, Pope John XXII. founded in 1332 a university to that of Toulouse was annexed in 1751. In the Peace of Brétigny the city in 1360 was left to the British without a fight and only came back to France in 1428. Their wealth was, however, then. The Hundred Years' War put the heyday of Cahors an end

Way of St. James ( Via Podiensis )

In the Middle Ages united in Cahors the pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela, which had followed the valley of the Lot or the Cele. Cross the Pont valentre they left the city in order to draw on the Kalkhochfläche the Quercy Blanc on to Montcuq. There were several hospices in Cahors. Today, there are in addition to three pilgrim hostels (French: Gîte d' étape ), hotels and private accommodation (French: Chambre d' hôtes ), and a campsite. In addition, Cahors has an Office de Tourisme. On the way to Montcuq there are other accommodation establishments in the towns of Les Mathieux, Labastide- Marnhac Lhospitalet and Escayrac. The Way of St. James in undulating through the Farming Quercy Blanc past secluded hamlets and individual farms. As a road connecting the D653 leads to Montcuq.

Economy and culture

The city is dominated by administration and services. The manufacturing sector is dominated by medium with an emphasis in the food industry: Cahors is the capital of the wine region of the same name. Another important agricultural product of the region is the truffle. Besides there are some companies in the pharmaceutical and electronics industries.

The construction of the A20 motorway Cahors has moved into the catchment area of ​​the regional metropolis of Toulouse.

2005 Cahors was the official French label "City of Art and History" and thus reflects the rich cultural heritage of the city bill.

Since 1985 is the Cahors Blues Festival and attracts every summer blues artists in the city.

Attractions

• Pont valentre: bridge from the 14th century ( 1308-1378 ) with three fortified towers, arches and six reinforced with pointed bastions pillars. The extraordinary example of medieval defensive building became the symbol of Cahors. The Pont valentre is part of the French section of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, as such, the bridge was recognized in 1998 as part of world heritage by UNESCO " Camino de Santiago in France."
• Saint-Etienne Cathedral: the cathedral with its dome architecture is the main church of Cahors and the seat of the bishop. Construction in the 11th century. , Since 1862 under monument protection, since 1998 part of the world cultural heritage by UNESCO.
• Mont Saint- Cyr, from the height of Mont Saint- Cyr itself offers the most beautiful views of the city.
• Remains of the Roman terms of Cahors ( Arc de Diane ).
• The Aqueduct of Cahors.
• The church of Saint Barthelemy in the 14th century.

Personalities

Sons and daughters

• Saint Didier, ( 571-614 ), bishop of Auxerre
• Louis Darquier de Pellepoix (1897-1980), right-wing politicians
• Léon Gambetta (1838-1882), French statesman of the Third Republic
• Philippe Gaubert (1879-1941), French flutist and composer
• Pope John XXII. (actually Jacques nozzle) ( 1245 od 1249 to 1334 ), Pope of the Catholic Church, resided as the first pope from 1316 permanently in Avignon
• Clément Marot ( 1496-1544 to ), French poet