Castelnau-Pégayrols (''Castèlnòu de Leveson in
Occitan'') is a
commune in the
Aveyron
Aveyron (; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southern France. It was named after the river Aveyron (river), Aveyron. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyro ...
department in southern
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. In addition to its castle and three churches it has a unique mediaeval irrigation system recognised in 1996 as of global importance.
Etymology
Since 1884 Castelnau-Pégayrols is the name of the commune. Between 1759-1884 it was written as ''Castelnau-Pégayrolles'' and still sometimes is.
) This is the modern name for ''Castelnau de Lévézou'' which was a translations of the original
occitan name ''Castèlnòu de Leveson''.
Castèl-nòu was the Occitan, for ''château neuf'', or ''new castle''.
The ''De Lézézou'' family held the castle and the lands around during the early middle ages until it passed to the House of Arpajon in 1289.In 1759,
Louis XV
Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity (then defi ...
created the Marquisat de Pégayrolles for ''Hypolite de Pégayrolles'', president of the Toulouse parliament and he took the chateau as his principal residence.
Geography
The territory of the commune includes the villages of Castelnau-Pégayrols, Està lane and Castelmus, and in 2009 had 326 inhabitants. It is 5316 ha in area, and extends from 488 to 1101m. To the east are dry
limestone
Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
soils of the
Causse Rouge grazed by the
milking ewes that contribute to
Roquefort cheese. These soils make way in the west to the
sandstone
Sandstone is a Clastic rock#Sedimentary clastic rocks, clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of grain size, sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate mineral, silicate grains, Cementation (geology), cemented together by another mineral. Sand ...
s and
schist
Schist ( ) is a medium-grained metamorphic rock generally derived from fine-grained sedimentary rock, like shale. It shows pronounced ''schistosity'' (named for the rock). This means that the rock is composed of mineral grains easily seen with a l ...
es of the crystalline plateau of the
Lévézou
The Lévézou () is a geographical region in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is an impervious crystalline plateau with an average altitude of around 900m. Its highest point is Mont Seigne (1 128 m). Though its borders are not strictly ...
, and the humid
chestnut woods. It is deeply cut by valley of the river
Muse
In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, the Muses (, ) were the Artistic inspiration, inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric p ...
, and tributary of the
Tarn.
[ ]
History
The village is in the ancient province of
Rouergue.
The village was mentioned in the eleventh century when in 1070, ''Aicfred de Lévezou'' donated the village church of St Michel to St Victor's abbey in Marseille, so they could set up a priory. A spring was found in the crypt that had medicinal properties. A new church was built for the village. ''Arnaud de Lévezou'' was made bishop of Béziers in 1096 and then archbishop of Narbonne in 1112. He had great influence with the papacy and became governor of Toulouse between 1119 and 1121. A new church was built for the village. This was time of the crusades, de Lévezou participated in the 2nd, 3rd and 7th.
In 1258, ''Bernard de Lévezou'' (Bishop of Bézier) granted privileges to the villagers while the priory was supported by the parishes of Castelnau,
St Beauzély,
Éstalane and Salsac.
On 3 May 1289 ''Bernard de Levezou'' and ''Hugues d'Arpajon'' fought a legal duel. Possession of Castelnau passed to the House of Arpajon, but Castelnau was not their main residence.
During the Arpajon period, the fortress saw peace and conflicts. The Hundred Years' War ended with the
Treaty of Brétigny (1360), which gave Rouergue to the English (''Les Anglais''). ''Les Anglais'' was also the name used to describe roving brigands that roamed the countryside during this unstable period, Castelnau was protected by its ramparts.
During the
Wars of Religion (1556–1632) the Arpajons of Castelnau became the warrior leaders of the
Protestants
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
. Millau was a Protestant stronghold.
In the 18th century,
Louis XV
Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity (then defi ...
created the ''Marquisat de Pégayrolles'' with Castelnau as its principal town. The marquis was Etienne Hypolite de Pegayrolles, President of the
Parliament in Toulouse and the family moved into the chateau and turned it from a mediaeval fortress to a residential chateau and redecorating with ''
trompe-l'Å“il'' paintings. The High Magistrate and "man of letters", Monsieur de Pegayrolles was known by his support of royal power against the Parliaments (1764), and against revolutionary power.
He joined the counter-revolutionaries; he founded a royalist club in
Millau
Millau (; ) is a commune in Occitania, France. Located at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers, the town is a subprefecture of the Aveyron department.
Millau is known for its Viaduct, glove industry and several nearby natural ...
. He died in October 1794, a victim of
the Terror's jails.
In April 1834, a royal prescription of
Louis Philippe creates the commune of Castelnau such that it is today.
Buildings and structures
Château
A castle was built on this strategic rock in the 8th century. It was rebuilt in the 11th century. The south wall of the keep was the strongest with the principal vaulted rooms and two square corner towers. A grand staircase was placed to the north in the 18th century. A 15th century entrance gate displays the coat-of-arms of the two families. Also at this time two wings were added conserving the appearance of a fortress. The core of the village was protected by defensive walls which are mainly intact.
File:CastenauP.jpg,
File:Castelnau-Pégayrols - Château -01.JPG,
File:Castelnau-Pégayrols - Château -02.JPG,
Mediaeval watercourse network
There exists a lodge (pond) feeding a cistern in the castle, from here an underground water course was built leading to three 12th century chestnut and walnut grinding watermills (recorded 1433). Later four were recorded (1640-1763) but only the location of three 15th century mills is known The conduits led into a developed irrigation system for the neighbouring fields, and for a public toilet. The mills were closed by 1953. The underground aqueduct and parts of the mills are being restored (2014).
File:Castelnau-Pégayrols - Réseau hydraulique médiéval -02.JPG,
File:Castelnau-Pégayrols - Réseau hydraulique médiéval -01.JPG,
File:Castelnau-Pégayrols - Réseau hydraulique médiéval -03.JPG,
File:Castelnau-Pégayrols - Réseau hydraulique médiéval -04.JPG,
File:Castelnau-Pégayrols - Réseau hydraulique médiéval -05.JPG,
Prieuré Saint-Michel
Église Saint-Michel
The romanesque church built on Caroligien foundations, becoming a priory church in 1070.
Église Notre-Dame
This is a Romanesque church from the 12th century. .
Population
See also
*
Communes of the Aveyron department
*
Rouergue
References
External links
Official village website :Castelnau-Pégayrols
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castelnaupegayrols
Communes of Aveyron