Couiza

Couiza ( Occitan: Coisan ) is a southern French village with 1156 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Aude department in the Languedoc- Roussillon region.

Location

The village lies at an altitude of about 225 meters above sea level. inst the river Aude about 40 km ( driving distance ) south of Carcassonne and about 16 kilometers south of Limoux. The Arques Castle is located about eleven miles to the east; the village of Rennes- le- Chateau is located about five kilometers to the south.

Demographics

In the 19th century the population grew from about 600 to over 1,000. The high of 1,356 inhabitants reached the place in 1931.

Economy

The surroundings of the town is still dominated by agriculture and forestry, with the livestock (cattle and sheep) accounts for the majority of agricultural production. Also wine production: Couiza has a share in Languedoc area, and is one of about 40 communities, which may market their white sparkling wines under the appellation Crémant de Limoux, Blanquette de Limoux AOC Blanquette méthode ancestral or AOC. In the town itself prevail and retail and smaller craft and service companies. There is also a chocolate factory in the town. In the late 20th century, tourism has been added as an important economic factor.

History

The demonstrable history of Couiza ( in the Middle Ages also Couzanum, Coinsanum, Couissan, Couyzan, Couisan, Couvizan, Couyza Couizan or written ) dates back to Roman times. The 7th and 8th centuries saw the final phase of the Christianization of the area, the Abbey of Sainte -Marie de Lagrasse played an important role. As can be seen in a document existed in the 9th century a dependent priory of Lagrasse in Couizanum.

In the Middle Ages, probably in the time of the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229), Couiza was developed into a fortified village ( castrum ). In the middle of the 13th century was the place in the possession of the resident at the Château d' Arques Pierre de Voisins, a former comrade in arms of Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester.

In the 16th century the family Joyeuse played an important role in Languedoc and in the confrontation with the Protestants (see Huguenots wars). Jean de Joyeuse was from 1513 the Castle of Couiza built and married a little later ( 1518) Françoise, the last heir of the house Voisins - one of her sons was Guillaume de Joyeuse ( 1520-1592 ), four of her grandchildren wore one after the title of ' Duke of Joyeuse ' (see list of Dukes of Joyeuse ).

Attractions

• The ancestral castle of the Joyeuse family - even if it has been converted into a hotel or restaurant - the most important attraction of Couiza. The four-winged, closed on all sides building with medieval-style round towers at the corners is in a well maintained park. The corner towers are located between the residential tracts (corps de logis ) are doppelgeschossig and have the typical windowed cross, rectangular windows of the Renaissance. The castle is recognized as a monument historique since 1913 or since 1944.
• The three-aisled domed and rip Église Saint -Jean -Baptiste is the parish church of the village; it probably dates from the 14th century, but was profoundly renovated in the 19th century - all the stones were removed and later bricked up again; then the interior of the church was painted in the taste of the time.