Montbrun (Lot)

Montbrun is a southern French village with 116 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Lot in the Midi-Pyrénées region. It is part of the Regional Natural Park of Causses du Quercy.

Location

Montbrun lies on the north bank of the Lot at a height of about 160 meters above sea level. inst on the southwestern edge of the Massif Central. Figeac, the nearest large town, about 22 km ( driving distance ) in a northeasterly direction is removed; the town of Cahors is located about 56 kilometers west.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had mostly around 350 inhabitants. As a result of the phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture, the population declined steadily in the first half of the 20th century back to the lows in the 1980s.

Economy

In skin -Quercy agriculture was operated primarily for self-catering, which included the wine until the 19th century, but was abandoned almost entirely after the phylloxera crisis. Today - in addition agriculture, small trade and crafts - the tourism in the form of apartment rentals ( gîtes ) a major role in the economy of the community.

History

The place was in the Middle Ages between the landlords ( Seigneuries ) of the families Barasc and Cardaillac controversial until the latter finally were able to prevail.

Attractions

• The castle (château ) emerged in the 12th and 13th centuries - from her is only the keep ( donjon ) and the remains of two enclosing walls, between which terraces were created. The building Privately owned, was classified as a monument historique in 1984.
• The megalithic dolmens de Aguals still has his largely preserved stone cladding in the form of a tumulus. It has been classified as a monument historique in 2001. In the field of the neighboring community Gréalou there are other dolmens.
• The Church ( Église Saint -Blaise ) was the former chapel and is oriented in a north-south direction. Your building structure was changed repeatedly in the past and only in the course of the French Revolution, it became the parish church of the village.