Arques (;

Languedocien Languedocien (French name, ), Languedocian or Lengadocian (), is an Occitan dialect spoken in rural parts of southern France such as Languedoc, Rouergue, Quercy, Agenais and Southern Périgord. It is sometimes also called Languedocien-Guyennai ...

: ''Arcas'') is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the

Aude Aude (; ) is a Departments of France, department in Southern France, located in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region and named after the river Aude (river), Aude. The departmental council also calls it "Ca ...

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

in the

Occitanie Occitanie may refer to: *Occitania, a region in southern France called ''Occitanie'' in French *Occitania (administrative region) Occitania ( ; french: Occitanie ; oc, Occitània ; ca, Occitània ) is the southernmost administrative region of ...

region of southern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Arquois'' or ''Arquoises''

Geography

Arques is located in the

Pyrénées The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...

mountains some 25 km south-east of

Limoux Limoux (; oc, Limós ) is a commune and subprefecture in the Aude department, a part of the ancient Languedoc province and the present-day Occitanie region in southern France. Its vineyards are famous for being first to produce sparkling wi ...

and 25 km north-east of

Quillan Quillan (; Languedocien: ''Quilhan'') is a commune in the Aude department in southern France. On 1 January 2016, the former commune of Brenac was merged into Quillan.Serres Sérres ( el, Σέρρες ) is a city in Macedonia, Greece, capital of the Serres regional unit and second largest city in the region of Central Macedonia, after Thessaloniki. Serres is one of the administrative and economic centers of Northe ...

in the west passing through the village and continuing to

Albières Albières (; oc, Albièras) is a commune in the Aude department in the Occitanie region of southern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Albiérois'' or ''Albiéroises'' Geography ''Albières'' is a remote commune high in the ...

in the east. The D54 goes north from the village to Valmigère. At the commune border the D70 branches from the D54 and follows a tortuous route to

Bouisse Bouisse (; oc, Boissa) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aude department The following is a list of the 433 communes of the Aude department of France. The communes cooperate i ...

. The commune is an alpine commune with rugged terrain but with some farms in the valley.Google Maps
/ref> The ''Rialsesse'' river flows through the centre of the commune and the village from east to west gathering many tributaries. In the south the ''Ruisseau de Lait'', with many tributaries rising in the commune, flows north-west into the ''Lac d'Arques'' (Arques Lake) which feeds the Rialsesse.

Neighbouring communes and villages

History

The area was owned by the Abbey of Lagrasse in the early 11th century, before coming under the control of the Lords of Termes. In 1231 the region was given by

Simon de Montfort Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester ( – 4 August 1265), later sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from his namesake relatives, was a nobleman of French origin and a member of the English peerage, who led the ...

to ''Pierre de Voisins'' after the

Albigensian Crusade The Albigensian Crusade or the Cathar Crusade (; 1209–1229) was a military and ideological campaign initiated by Pope Innocent III to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc, southern France. The Crusade was prosecuted primarily by the French crown ...

. His successor, Gilles de Voisins, began the construction of the castle in 1280 and the organization of the

Bastide Bastides are fortified new towns built in medieval Languedoc, Gascony, Aquitaine, England and Wales during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, although some authorities count Mont-de-Marsan and Montauban, which was founded in 1144, as the f ...

. It was the northern barons who came to occupy the land of the

Cathar Catharism (; from the grc, καθαροί, katharoi, "the pure ones") was a Christian dualist or Gnostic movement between the 12th and 14th centuries which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France. Follow ...

heretics under the order of

Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III ( la, Innocentius III; 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216), born Lotario dei Conti di Segni (anglicized as Lothar of Segni), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 to his death in 16 J ...

. The dynasty of Voisins was extinguished in 1518 with the marriage of Françoise with Jean de Joyeuse, a member of the ''House of Joyeuse'' who therefore became the owner of the lordship and barony of Arques. Arques castle was abandoned in favour of the Château des Ducs de Joyeuse (Castle of the Dukes of Joyeuse) in

Couiza Couiza (; oc, Coisan) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.Commune de Coui ...

. Lords and barons of Arques-barons were hereditary barons of

Languedoc The Province of Languedoc (; , ; oc, Lengadòc ) is a former province of France. Most of its territory is now contained in the modern-day region of Occitanie in Southern France. Its capital city was Toulouse. It had an area of approximately ...

(

Pays d'états Under the Ancien Régime, a ''pays d'états'' () was a type of généralité, or fiscal and financial region where, in contrast to the pays d'election, an estates provincial or representative assembly of the three orders had retained its traditi ...

) and had a permanent seat in the

Estates of Languedoc The Estates of Languedoc was the provincial assembly for the province of Languedoc during the ancien regime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for "ancient, old" ** Société des anciens textes français * the French for "former, senior" ...

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 254 inhabitants.

Sites and monuments

The commune has two sites that are registered as historical monuments: *The Arques Iron Cross (14th century) *The Château d'Arques (14th century) ;Other sites of interest *The Déodat Roché House converted into an exhibition on

Catharism Catharism (; from the grc, καθαροί, katharoi, "the pure ones") was a Christian dualist or Gnostic movement between the 12th and 14th centuries which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France. Follow ...

*The Arboretum du Planel *A Sculpture of the Head of a Cleric (15th century) is registered as an historical object. *The Church contains several items that are registered as historical objects: **A Group Sculpture: Saint Anne, Virgin and child (14th century) **A

Tabernacle According to the Hebrew Bible, the tabernacle ( he, מִשְׁכַּן, mīškān, residence, dwelling place), also known as the Tent of the Congregation ( he, link=no, אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ’ōhel mō‘ēḏ, also Tent of Meeting, etc.), ...

and Altar seating in the south side chapel (17th century) **A Cross (14th century) **An Altar Cross and 6 Candlesticks (18th century) **A

Retable A retable is a structure or element placed either on or immediately behind and above the altar or communion table of a church. At the minimum it may be a simple shelf for candles behind an altar, but it can also be a large and elaborate structur ...

and Tabernacle in the south side chapel (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy ;Chateau d'Arques Picture Gallery File:Arques (Aude).jpg, The chateau File:Arques - Château 28.JPG, Interior File:Arques - Château 29.JPG, A door File:Arques - Château 26.JPG, The ceiling File:Arques - Château 6.JPG, The keep File:Arques - Château 5.JPG, The entrance File:Arques - Château 32.JPG, Windows File:Château d'Arques (Francia) 3.jpg, Arch File:Donjon d Arques, Aude (8356577801).jpg, The keep in the 19th century

Notable people linked to the commune

*Pierre de Voisins (1177-1233), Lord of Voisins-le-Bretonneux, then Limoux, Arques, Reddes, Caderonne, Couiza, and Bugarach. In 1191 he went on the

Third Crusade The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt by three European monarchs of Western Christianity (Philip II of France, Richard I of England and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor) to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by ...

. In 1209 he took part in the

. Lieutenant of Simon de Montfort who entrusted him with several lordships in Carcassonne and Razes after the fall of the

Château de Termes The Château de Termes (Languedocien: ''Castèl de Tèrme'') is a ruined castle near the village of Termes in the Aude ''département'' of France. It is one of the so-called Cathar castles. History Built on a promontory, defended on three ...

. He was Baron of Arques. *

Anne de Joyeuse Anne de Batarnay de Joyeuse, Baron d'Arques, Vicomte then Duke of Joyeuse (1560 – 20 October 1587) was a royal favourite and active participant in the French Wars of Religion. An intimate friend of Henry III of France, he was keeper of the kin ...

(1560/1-1587), Baron of Arques, Viscount then Duke of

Joyeuse Joyeuse (; fro, Joiuse; meaning "joyous, joyful") was, in medieval legend, the sword wielded by Charlemagne as his personal weapon. A sword identified as Joyeuse was used in French royal coronation ceremonies since the 13th century, and is now ...

. *Déodat Roché, born on 13 December 1877 at Arques, died on 12 January 1978, historian of

, magistrate, philosopher, anthroposopher, freemason. *Victor Boffelli, born on 20 March 1947 at Arques, French rugby player