Rieux-Volvestre

Rieux- Volvestre is a commune of the Haute - Garonne in the Midi-Pyrénées region. It is the main town ( chef -lieu ) of the eponymous canton and administratively to the assigned district Muret. Until 22 June 2009, the community was officially Rieux.

• 3.1 Cathedral
• 3.2 Former domination storm
• 3.3 Maison Laguens
• 3.4 Pont de Lajous
• 3.5 Other Facilities

Geography

The southern French village with 2574 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) is located in the former province Volvestre, at the foot of the Pyrenees, 45 km south of Toulouse. The municipal boundary to the west runs along the Garonne, which forms at this point meanders. In addition, Rieux- Volvestre is drained by the Arize, a right tributary of the Garonne. The creek Eaudonne make up the western border of the neighboring municipality Latrape.

The cereal crops (especially corn and wheat) is for Rieux- Volvestre although still important, even if it is sustained and the place more and more developed into a residential area for the working population in the city of Toulouse. The nearest train station is in Carbonne.

History

Rieux is derived from the Latin Rivis from what, Bach ' means.

Rieux was 1202 Cité libre ( Free Imperial City ). 1317 was the reign of Pope John XXII. to the diocese where (→ Diocese of Rieux ). The city remained an episcopate until the French Revolution. Today they canonically part of the Archdiocese of Toulouse.

On 22 June 2009 the church officially adopted the name Rieux- Volvestre.

Coat of arms

On a red background with a silver Easter lamb, which carries a banner of the same color. The azure main shield is decorated with three golden fleurs -de- lis in a row.

Demographics

The community has since the 1980s from a steady growth.

Attractions

Cathedral

The Church Cathedral of the Nativity -de -Marie de Rieux ( the Nativity of the Virgin of Rieux Cathedral ), also called Ancienne Cathedrale, was the beginning of the 14th century at the behest of Pope John XXII. built. The architecture as it is presents itself today in the Mediterranean inspired. From the original Gothic building remained only the nave and the portal. However, the stock had fortified expression; next to solid walls know the cathedral also turrets and loopholes to facilitate a defense. The octagonal tower of the church in the Toulouse- style (style toulousain ) has three floors and is 43 meters high. Remarkably inside is the 61- piece carved choir stalls made ​​of walnut from the 17th century. Famous church is because of their episcopal church treasure. The cathedral and various parts of its rich features are under monument protection since 1923.

Former rule storm

La Tour aces on the Rue de Salles is a fortified house called with two upper floors, whose name goes back to a tower from the 13th century. On the east pediment of the building still dominates the town bell. The portal from the 17th or 18th century, is covered with a curved pediment.

The house, which is a listed building since 1990, belonged to the family of Marquefave, who sold it in 1517 in the city. Until the French Revolution, it served as the town hall, then it was rebuilt and used until the 19th century as a prison. In the 20th century it became a theater and later a movie theater. Today there are plans to reconvert the house into a theater.

Maison Laguens

Maison Laguens is the name of a house in the Rue de l' Évêché was rebuilt ( near the cathedral), the beginning of the 16th century at the behest of the Bishop of Rieux. The building is of a hexagonal tower, the Tour Valtan dominated. Striking are the two tower structures, on the one hand a long-drawn pyramid and on the other hand, a bell tower, reminiscent in its form at the top of a minaret. The house, which is a listed building since 1972 because of its façade and its roof facing courtyard still present, the original three-storey half-timbered facade; the street facade and the portal, however, date from the 17th and 18th centuries.

In the 19th and 20th century, the building was successively a girls 'school, a Christian home, and finally a boys' school. Today it is the center Pierre Hanzel, a clinic for multiple sclerosis housed.

Pont de Lajous

The single arch 26 meters long brick bridge Pont de Lajous leads from the Cathedral over the Arize and is since 1950 under monument protection. Originally the building connected the city with the medieval castle Rieux Casterette (Château de la féodal Casterette ), which was on the other (right) side of the river. Beginning of the 17th century, the bridge was in very poor condition and the arch had collapsed. The reconstruction was driven by the architect Pierre Monge from 1620, but it was only in 1683 it was completed. In 1785, the bridge was renovated. Previously on each of the two bridgeheads was a goal, but nothing more is now visible.

Other Facilities

• At the Place de Lastic, three half-timbered houses that are under monument protection since 2011.

• The stone bridge Pont d' Auriac via the Arize. Striking is the bridge chapel Notre- Dame de Bonne Garde which projects from the middle bridge piers in the air.

• The local museum ( Musée d' histoire locale)

• The Musée lapidaire shows stone carving from the 13th and 14th centuries.

• The Musée Papogay presents the medieval archery and other traditions.

Customs

On the first Sunday in the month of May, there is the feast Le papogay site. The participants try ( active only allowed local ) to take a parrot made ​​of wood and iron, which sits on top of a 45 meter high mast. That archer who manages to overthrow the parrots, which symbolizes the devil, is elected for one year at the " village king". The tradition is to go back to the year 1589 and was originally performed for upgrading the troops.

Personalities

• Martin Guerre, whose trial took place in 1560 in Rieux.

Twinning

• Font rubí, Catalonia, Spain