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Castelnau-de-Montmiral

Coordinates: 43°57′59″N 1°49′18″E / 43.9664°N 1.8217°E / 43.9664; 1.8217
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Castelnau-de-Montmiral
The main square in Castelnau-de-Montmiral
The main square in Castelnau-de-Montmiral
Coat of arms of Castelnau-de-Montmiral
Location of Castelnau-de-Montmiral
Map
Castelnau-de-Montmiral is located in France
Castelnau-de-Montmiral
Castelnau-de-Montmiral
Castelnau-de-Montmiral is located in Occitanie
Castelnau-de-Montmiral
Castelnau-de-Montmiral
Coordinates: 43°57′59″N 1°49′18″E / 43.9664°N 1.8217°E / 43.9664; 1.8217
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentTarn
ArrondissementAlbi
CantonVignobles et Bastides
IntercommunalityCA Gaillac-Graulhet
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Paul Salvador[1]
Area
1
88.81 km2 (34.29 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,050
 • Density12/km2 (31/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
81064 /81140
Elevation153–485 m (502–1,591 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Castelnau-de-Montmiral (French pronunciation: [kastɛlno mɔ̃miʁal]; Occitan: Castèlnòu de Montmiralh) is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.

Demography

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 1,215—    
1975 1,037−2.24%
1982 958−1.13%
1990 910−0.64%
1999 895−0.18%
2007 946+0.70%
2012 1,005+1.22%
2017 1,033+0.55%
Source: INSEE[3]

Geography

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The Vère flows westward through the commune.

History

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While traces of activities dating back to the Bronze Age such as dolmens and oppidums can be seen in the nearby forest La Grésigne, the village was founded as an albigensian bastide (fortified new town) in 1222 by Raymond VII, count of Toulouse, under the name “Castellum Novum Montis Mirabilis”.

During the subsequent years, the village remained an impressive stronghold. In 1345, during the Hundred Years' War, when Edward the Black Prince invaded the Albigeois, he reportedly left without besieging the village… Later, it served as a shelter for Catholics who were fleeing from Gaillac because of the Wars of Religion. King Louis XIII visited Castelnau in June 1622, and stayed in the “Tonnac” house.

Remarkable sites and monuments

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Reliquary cross, early 14th century.

Remarkable sites and monuments in Castelnau-de-Montmiral include :

  • the village itself, listed among «Les Plus Beaux Villages de France »
  • the central square surrounded by corbel vaults, with an ancient pillory
  • the Notre Dame de l’Assomption church, with a 16th-century bell
  • ancient stone houses and half-timbered houses
  • the ramparts
  • the Reliquary cross, created in 1341 by a goldsmith in Albi
  • the nearby forest La Grésigne

Cultural references

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“One evening, a small, jolting, overcrowded bus took us to Castelnau-de-Montmiral; it was raining; as we got out on the square surrounded by corbel vaults, Sartre abruptly told that he was fed up with being mad.” ("Un soir, un petit autobus cahotant et bondé nous amena à Castelnau de Montmiral; il pleuvait; en descendant sur la place entourée d’arcades, Sartre me dit abruptement qu’il en avait assez d’être fou.")

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE