Villenouvelle

Ville Nouvelle ( Occitan: Vilanovèla ) is a commune with 1348 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Haute- Garonne in the Midi-Pyrénées region.

Location

Ville Nouvelle is located in the cultural landscape of Lauragais, about 30 km ( driving distance ) away in the south-east of Toulouse. More about 30 kilometers southwest lies Castelnaudary. All of these cities are located on or near the Canal du Midi and are both on the A61 and over the railway line Toulouse- Narbonne interconnected.

Demographics

In the first half of the 19th century the population was stable at about 1,000 inhabitants. As a result of the phylloxera crisis and the mechanization of agriculture, the population dropped to about 500 in the 1920s. The significant population growth in recent decades is due to the proximity to Toulouse and comparatively low rents and land prices.

Economy

The place lived for centuries of agriculture, which in the Middle Ages and in early modern times, the cultivation of woad (pastel ) played a dominant role. The steady growth of the population of Ville Nouvelle is an indicator of the positive economic development of the region. Due to the proximity to the city of Toulouse and relatively low land prices, a new district is created in recent decades.

History

The Roman road Via Aquitania led through the territory of today's community. In the 11th and 12th centuries there was a - now almost deserted - place with unknown names about 800 meters to the northeast in the vicinity of a priory. 'Ville Nouvelle ', however, was in 1270 by Alfonso of Poitiers ( 1220-1271 ) on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela ( Via Tolosana ) was founded as Bastide against the potential resurgence of the Albigensian movement (see the neighboring towns of Avignonet- Lauragais or Villefranche -de -Lauragais ). Alphonse of Poitiers was the younger brother of King Louis IX. (1214-1270) and by the marriage of his brother with Joan of the Pious (1220-1271), the only heir of the powerful county of Toulouse, the French king hoped for territorial and political power gain. In fact, the marriage remained childless, and after the death of both spouses in 1271, the county Toulouse fell to the French crown.

Attractions

• The Parish Church ( Église Saint- Sernin, formerly Notre- Dame-des- Anges ) dates from the 15th century. It impresses with a powerful bell gable of brick masonry, as is characteristic for the tolosaner Gothic. However, this here is different from the others by two superimposed and supported by machicoulis courses that give a military-like appearance of the church. The bells arcades have small stepped gable triangle ( s miter arcs ). The Archivolts portal shows bases, capitals and a tympanum of sandstone; old photos show two character slots left and right of the portal. The nave interior with semicircular apse is vaulted. The church building is recognized as a monument historique since 1926.
• The market hall ( hall ) dates from the 18th century and is the center. Mighty brick pillared arcades form the substructure, which is covered by a wooden roof. She was recognized in 1973 as a monument historique.