La Romieu
La Romieu is a commune of 566 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Gers in the Région Midi -Pyrénées. The place is located on Via Podiensis, one of the French sections of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The name of Romieu referred to gascognisch a pilgrimage to Rome. The collegiate church of the town, Saint- Pierre is part of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Location
La Romieu is in the northwest of the former Vice- county ( vicomté ) Lomagne approximately 16 km ( driving distance ) north-west of Lectoure, the former capital.
Demographics
Economy
The small town lives mainly from agriculture. In recent decades, proceeds from the tourism sector have been added.
Way of St. James ( Via Podiensis )
There are in place pilgrim hostels (French: gîte d' étape ), hotels and private rooms (French: chambres d' hôtes ), and a campsite. Tourist information is also to be found. The trail continues through the hills of Gascony, by agricultural area about Castelnau -sur- l'Auvignon to Condom. As a road link, the route D41 - D931 to Condom.
History
In a document from the year 1088 the Vicomte de Lomagne overwrote an area in the forest of Firmacon to the Benedictine Abbey of Saint -Victor in Marseille, after there had settled a pilgrim. Often, though closed, there must have been a pilgrims, but the document says nothing about it. Already at this time seems to be around a place located around the hermitage to have. In 1090 began the construction of a priory. In 1317, acquired the Cardinal Arnauld d' Aux, a native of this area, the Benedictine priory, to convert it into a secular collegiate; in him should reside 14 canons.
During the Wars of the monastery was attacked and damaged by Protestants. At the time of the French Revolution it was dissolved. The archives and the rood screen burned, the inhabitants of the village took over the church as a parish church.
Attractions
- By the year 1320, ie, in just three years, the Collegiate Church of Saint- Pierre was built, and work began on a cloister. The one year later, late Cardinal, who had arranged for a well-appointed with treasures and relics, was buried in his pen. The nave Gothic church has quite unusual Dimensions: With a width of only 9 meters, it is 36 meters long and the ogival vaults reach a height of 15 meters. The high windows on the south side and in the polygonal choir show rich stained glass. Originally the church was completely painted in a restoration in the 19th century, however, these paintings have been removed. On the north side there is a large cloister with eight arcades closes on each side. The canons could enter from there the church by a richly decorated portal directly. To the west of the cloister is built over the 33 meter high square bell tower.
- Even higher is the so-called "cardinal storm" north-east of the choir. The octagonal tower consists of three superimposed halls. The bottom served as a sacristy, to the emergence of time possibly as a personal office for the Cardinal Arnaud. The two floors above it hosted the chapter house and the archive. At the top is followed by a viewing platform with large open windows to seven of the eight sides. The compound is prepared by an outside grown spiral staircase. In particular, the lower level can still be rich wall paintings from the 14th century. They show coat of arms, representing the twelve apostles, prophets, Christ, Mary and various martyrs. The vault is painted angels. The style of the paintings showing Roman and Italian influences.
- The ancient Hôpital St- Jacques has been remodeled into a convent and later; Today it is privately owned.
- The Jardins de Coursiana, located opposite to the pin, are a garden. The arboretum contains about 700 rare trees and shrubs; in a garden medicinal plants are shown.
- A source with a wash house is located just outside the town.
- Also just outside the town, the Château de Madirac with preserved parts ( archway and corner tower ) from the 16th century. It is in a pitiful state.
- There are several grottoes and caves in the area.
Personalities
- Georges Seres (1887-1951), cyclist
Twinning
- El Masroig - Spain, province of Tarragona