Sarlat-la-Canéda

Sarlat- la -Caneda is a commune in the French region of Aquitaine in the Dordogne with 9568 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011). The city is the seat of the prefecture (French Sous- préfecture ) of the arrondissements of Sarlat- la -Caneda, which consists of ten cantons. On March 1, 1965, the municipalities Sarlat La Caneda and were merged to Sarlat- la -Caneda.

Sarlat- la -Caneda is situated in a valley surrounded by wooded hills of Perigord noir. The city is the tourist center of the region and impresses the visitor with its medieval town, which dates back to the 13th to 16th centuries and gives the impression of an official and commercial city of the Ancien Régime.

History

The Abbey, around which developed the town of Sarlat, was probably founded 820-840 of Duke Pepin of Aquitaine. The town grew up in the shadow of the Brotherhood in the 13th century and gained increasing independence. In the year 1317, Pope John XXII. Sarlat became a bishopric: the abbey church was the Cathedral Saint -Sacerdos, and the monks were the cathedral chapter.

In the 13th and early 14th century thrived on the trade and merchant city, but the Hundred Years War they taught based. Although Sarlat never occupied by the English, with the peace of Brétigny it fell in 1360 but ultimately in their hands. The resurgent fighting in 1370 to Sarlat ranked in the troops of Charles V., and was in 1404 involved in the reconquest of the Perigord. It was a dearly bought victory that left the diocese in ruins. Without much hesitation, however, the reconstruction was undertaken; from the period 1450-1500 come many of the traditional style of the early Renaissance houses, on which the city is so proud today.

Armand de Gontaut -Biron, 1492 appointed bishop, undertook the completion of the church began in 1368 Sainte -Marie. In 1553, a new bishop, the Florentine Nicolas was I. Gaddi, Cardinal of Saint -Théodore and a relative of Catherine de Medici, built the lying next to the Cathedral Episcopal palace in the Italian style. Because of the forming around Bishop, judges, officials and dignitaries of the chapter wealthy upper classes a rich cultural life could evolve in the mid-16th century, which was also born in Sarlat writer Étienne de La Boétie had its share.

Historic Old Town

Since the 17th century Sarlat was politically insignificant and impoverished rapidly. The buildings fell inexorably, to the French Government in 1962 unexpectedly generous Preservation Act adopted, which was specifically aimed at the restoration of historic old towns. The restoration lasted from 1964 to 1974 and recorded not only the historic building, but the entire Old Town district of Sarlat. Ever since, the " resurrected " city in the spotlight, boosting tourism by leaps and bounds. Sarlat is now 1 million visitors per year.

From the ramparts and moats surrounding the old town until the 18th century, is nothing more available. The ditches were filled and laid them on a large boulevard. From the old city wall, there are only scattered remnants. Moreover, in the 19th century was a straight road, the Rue de la République, created the beat a path through the old town and grown since then divides it into eastern and western half.

The focus of the old city are the basilica and the town hall. Otherwise, are buildings from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque naturally side by side. The church, whose most valuable piece of equipment is the organ from the 17th century, has a huge bell tower with Romanesque influence.

At the small square in front of the church are the former bishop's palace with an open loggia on the first floor and the Maison de La Boétie, in which the politician and writer Étienne de La Boétie, friend Michel de Montaigne, was born in 1530. Behind the cathedral is the so-called Lanterne des Morts, a cylindrical tower, which has probably served mainly as a dead lantern or mortuary chapel.

The spacious Market Square is located, a few steps away from the church, in front of the baroque town hall. Posh Palais change the place; the most beautiful palace is the winding Hôtel de Ville times. The secular parish church Sainte -Marie and the Hôtel Chassaing on the north side serve at the annual theater festival as a backdrop. Behind the little Place des Oies follows, which is also surrounded by picturesque old houses.

Culture

In the city the zweitältetes Film Festival takes place in France (after the festival founded in 1948 in Avignon ). Since 1962, refer to the last two in July and the first week of August performances held on the central market square. There are also performances for several years in the newly built convention center on the edge of Old Town. The initial call of provincialism could quickly put the festival site; Today it attracts many ensembles from abroad.

Sarlat with its picturesque setting was one of the locations for the U.S. movie Ever After from the year 1998.

Environment

About three kilometers north of the center of Sarlat is the small Romanesque pilgrimage church of Notre- Dame de Temniac.

Twinning

Gouda in the Dutch province of South Holland is a partner city of Sarlat- la -Caneda.

Personalities

Sons and daughters

• Étienne de La Boétie (1530-1563), French jurist and writer, a friend of Michel de Montaigne
• Gautier de Costes de La Calprenède (1610-1663), French writer
• Debidour Henri (1907-1990), French politician, member of the first and second Constituent National Assembly
• Thorsten Droste (1950-2011, honorary citizen of Sarlat)
• François Fournier - Sarlovèse (1773-1827), Cavalry General of the First Empire
• Pierre Lachambeaudie (1807-1872), French fabulist
• Gabriel Tarde (1843-1904), French jurist, criminologist, sociologist and social psychologist