Termes (Aude)

Termes ( Occitan: Terme) is a small village with only 48 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the south of France. It is situated in the Aude department in the Languedoc- Roussillon region. The residents of the community are called Termenais.

Location

Termes is located in the rugged mountains of the Corbières about 57 km ( driving distance ) southwest of Narbonne and 50 km south-east of Carcassonne. The nearest major town is Lagrasse ( about 21 kilometers to the north ) with the abbey of Sainte -Marie de Lagrasse. Also worth seeing is the - Located about halfway to Lagrasse - little church of St Martin in Saint -Martin -des- Puits.

Demographics

The place had in the 19th century at times over 300 inhabitants and in the first half of the 20th century still about 150 inhabitants; immediately after the second world war there were only about 80 people who lived in Termez.

Economy

Main source of income of the village is the wine; the vineyards of the community Termes are within the protected designation of origin Corbières. Since the 1970s and 1980s, a little tourism ( gîtes ) is added as a source of income. Sheep husbandry is hardly operated.

History

Termes is mentioned in the middle of the 12th century; if there is already a fortified village ( castrum ) was at that time or was only converted to the effect in the Katharerzeit is unclear. In 1210, Termes was besieged during the Albigensian Crusade ( 1209-1229 ) as one of the Occitan cities, which offered the Cathars protection. The Termes castle fell in December 1210 to the Crusaders under Simon de Montfort.

In 1228, a royal garrison was quartered in the largely destroyed castle, which should on the one hand preventing a resurgence of Catharism, but on the other hand held a strategically important position in the struggle against the expansionist ambitions of the Crown of Aragon. The village of Termes was still owned by Olivier de Termes, which it in 1260 to Louis IX. sold, the below newly settled village immediately, but at the same time the castle awakened by new construction work back to life.

Attractions

Castle ruins

The Termes castle was first mentioned in the mid-12th century documented. During the Albigensian Crusade besieged and captured the Crusader system. After the destruction of the French king Louis IX had. build the castle from about 1260 new. She had until the 1650s stock before Louis XIV ordered their final destruction. The ruin is recognized as a monument historique since 1989.

Other

• The Église Notre -Dame is a Romanesque church from the 12th century, but it was in the 19th century fundamentally reshaped (transfer of input from the South to the west side, construction of a bell tower in place of the older bell gable, built a round window above the altar ). The interior of the church has a single nave and apse without, but with a slightly elevated choir area; the space is covered by a pointed barrel vault with transverse arches. Two items of equipment are worth mentioning: the baptismal font with its supporting column of the 13th century and a Baroque panel painting depicting a Madonna with child. The church is recognized as a monument historique since 1951.
• The Chapelle Saint -André is located southeast of the present village in the valley of Sou de Laroque. It dates from the Middle Ages, but was restored at the end of the 19th century fundamentally.
• The privately owned water mill La Buade is about 2.5 kilometers from Termez away in the valley of Sou de Laroque.
• The Gorges du Termenet and the Gorges de Coynepont are two - partially -developed for hikers - Canyons of the Corbières.

Personalities

• Olivier de Termes (around 1200-1274 ), Knight, Faydit and Crusaders