Puycelci

Puycelsi ( sometimes spelled Puycelci; Occitan: Puègcèlsi ) is a southern French village with 484 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Tarn department in the Midi-Pyrénées region. The place is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France '.

Toponym

The place name is derived from the Latin podium Celsium ( " flat hill of the Celts " ), which the Celtic dun celto is based.

Location

Puycelsi is on three sides by a steep hill above the valley of the Vère about 43 km ( driving distance ) west of Albi and 24 kilometers north of the wine village of Gaillac. The former Bastide Castelnau -de- Montmiral ( about twelve kilometers south-west ) and the place Bruniquel ( about 13 kilometers north of the river Aveyron) are also among the Most Beautiful Villages in France '.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had always 1600-2200 inhabitants. The phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture led to a loss of jobs and, consequently, to a steady decline of the population.

Economy

Today The community lives primarily from agriculture and forestry as well as by craft and by small businesses. Since the 1960s, tourism also plays a role in the form of the rental of apartments.

History

Nearby in a prehistoric place of worship - - Place of Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Aurillac was settled in the 10th century that is. In the time of the Albigensian Crusades (1209-1229), the town was besieged by the troops of Simon de Montfort; after the Treaty of Meaux ( 1229 ) the local castle was razed. In pastoral crusade of 1320, the city was besieged again and also during the Hundred Years War ( 1386 ).

Attractions

• The 800 -meter-long wall preserved remains of fortifications ( Ramparts ) are recognized as a monument historique since 1927. This includes the city gate (Porte de l' Irissou ), which is shown separately since 1950, again as a monument historique.
• The town has several Renaissance houses find out exactly hewn stone from the 16th and 17th century in the immediate vicinity of quarry stone and half-timbered houses.
• The so-called Château des capitaines - gubernatorial dates from the 15th century.
• The built in Gothic style in the 14th and 15th century parish church ( Église Saint- Corneille) is dominated by a massive western tower, whose monumentality is mitigated by corner pilaster strips and cornices cranked. The interior of the church has a single nave with side chapel extensions.
• The immediately adjacent to the boundary wall Rochus Chapel ( Chapelle Saint -Roch ) has a small bell gable.
• A three-arched, formerly on the - in 1974 redirected - Vère leading late medieval stone bridge (Pont de Laval ) from the 14th/15th. Century is also provided as a monument historique since 1991 under protection.
• The about two kilometers outside the village located Chapelle Saint- Julien- le -Vieux is acknowledged as a monument historique since 2002.

Château des capitaines - Governor

Defensive walls and towers

Prison Tower and Porte de l' Irissou