Revel (Haute-Garonne)

Revel is a municipality with 9352 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in south-western France in the Région Midi -Pyrénées in the Haute- Garonne, 52 km east of Toulouse. It is located on the foothills of the Montagne Noire, in the valley of the River Sor and is known in the region for its furniture industry.

History

The city was in 1342 by Philip VI. founded as a Bastide in the woods of Vaure to grant the surrounding residents protection against continuous robberies. To Bastide among the surrounding villages Vaure, Couffinal, Dreuilhe and Vaudreuille. Very soon Revel counted 3,000 residents, but the plague of 1348 killed more than half of it. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the economy prospered through the cultivation and trade of Pastels. During the Wars of Religion Revel was repeatedly conquered and destroyed the churches. The city became Protestant. When canceling the Edict of Nantes ( 1685), Protestants were converted by force. Many of the wealthier residents fled to Geneva, Berlin, Holland and even to the West Indies, to the detriment of the local economy. In the 18th century there was a silk stocking factory, which was known throughout southern France and Catalonia. Since the mid 19th century, the wood and furniture industry is predominant, with a specialization in the field of wood - inlays, which now has an international reputation.

Others

Characteristic of the city is the Central Market Hall with clock tower. The center is oriented with continuous with right-angled streets emanating from this market hall.

Revel is due to the infiltration trench, a supply channel, the Canal du Midi which supplies water from the 5 km away from Lac de Saint- Ferreol.

Revel is the birthplace of Vincent Auriol, President of France from 1947-54.