Vieux (Tarn)

Vieux ( Occitan: Vius ) is a southern French village with 178 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Tarn department in the Midi-Pyrénées region.

Location

Vieux is situated in the valley of the Vère about 30 km ( driving distance ) north-west of Albi and 15 kilometers north of the wine village of Gaillac. The former Bastide Castelnau -de- Montmiral is only about eight kilometers to the southwest.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had always 320-500 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

As early as the Neolithic period the area was apparently settled, since is in the middle of a field in the area still a menhir. In a document of the 10th century a ' Abbot of Saint -Eugène ' with Adalard name is mentioned - the existence of the place thus seems to be associated with a long since Gegan against the monastery. Here the relics of several regionally revered martyrs were worshiped, but they were transferred in 1494 as part of a translation of relics to Vieux Albi Cathedral.

Attractions

• The 14th-century parish church ( Église Saint -Eugène ) impressed by their square below, above, however octagonal west tower; the arcades of the two upper floors are offset from each other. The interior of the six - jochigen nave (width: about ten meters / height: about twelve meters) is convex and has lateral extensions chapel. The church building is already recognized as a monument historique since 1906.
• Approximately 600 meters to the southwest is the middle of a field about three feet high menhir ( Peyra Lebada ) from the time of the megalithic cultures. His age should be around 6000 years. He is also recognized as a monument historique since 1977.