Lastours

Lastours ( Occitan: Las gate ) is a small southern French village with 165 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Aude department in the Languedoc- Roussillon region. The place was first - after residing here nobility - the name of Cabaret, and later the name Rivière and from the 18th century also officially named Lastours ( " towers ").

Location

Lastours is located in the southern foothills of the Montagne Noire on the river Orbiel in the heart of the Pays du Cabardès about 18 km ( driving distance ) north of Carcassonne. To the east includes the landscape of the Minervois with the seeing towns of Caunes -Minervois, Rieux- Minervois and Minerve. The four medieval castles are located about two kilometers walk and 180 meters height difference from the village.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had at times more than 800 inhabitants. As a result of the phylloxera crisis, the mechanization of agriculture and the end of ore mining and cloth weaving, the population decreased significantly.

Economy

Even in ancient times and the Middle Ages ores (iron, lead, copper, and even silver and gold) were cut and processed into blanks here; ore mining continued into the 19th century. At the same time played the cloth weaving on - the water-powered mechanical looms - a large role in the economic life of Lastours. In addition, will probably run in the neighborhood viticulture since Gallo- Roman times; the wine is marketed these days about the appellation Cabardès (AOC ).

History

Prehistoric human artifacts have been discovered in a cave below the four castles. Since ancient times, the area was known for its wealth of ores. In the 11th century it belonged to the lords ( seigneurs ) of Cabaret, a rather numerous family, who made a center of Albigensian movement from Lastours, but the Albigensian Crusade ( 1209-1229 ) ended all this. The last castle Mr. Pierre Roger de Cabaret entered his property in 1211 without a fight to Simon de Montfort from; he died in 1229 or shortly thereafter. In the 16th century a large part of the population turned to Protestantism, but Guillaume de Joyeuse ( Marshal of France ) began in 1591 to an end.

Attractions

Châteaux de Lastours

The rather large family theater built in the 11th and early 12th century, three of the four castles - were still looped - although surrendered without a fight during the Albigensian Crusade. The fourth castle (Tour Régine ) was created as a royal castle in the year 1260th All four ruins are recognized since 1905 as a monument historiques.

Other

• About 50 feet below the castle are the ruins of the exposed only in the 80s and 90s of the 20th century fortified hilltop settlement ( castrum ); it was one of three castra at the feet of castles. During the excavations we found a large number of vessels, keys, belt buckles, etc., so that the circuit is close, that it was forbidden to the inhabitants in their expulsion, any personal possessions - not even clothes - take.
• The little away from the town standing uninhabited Château de la Caunette was the residence of a wealthy mine owner and dates from the 16th century. It is recognized as a monument historique since 1948.

Personalities

• Pierre Roger de Cabaret ( † after 1229 ), Knight and Faydit the time of the Albigensian Crusades