Martel, Lot

Martel is a commune in the Lot department in southwestern France. It is a small medieval town in a region well known for its walnuts and truffles. It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Association.

History

The town's name means "hammer", and three of these are to be seen on the town's coat of arms. Charles Martel, who earned the nickname "hammer" after his victory in the Battle of Tours in 732, is said to have founded the town. It is more likely to have been established as an urban centre by Rodulphe, first Viscount of Turenne, without a castle or abbey. Henry the Young King died here in 1183. He had sought refuge there after revolting against his father, Henry II of England, and ransacking local monasteries including Rocamadour. He died after confessing his sins, on a bed of hot ashes and a heavy crucifix on his chest.

In 1219, the town received its charter and was a fiefdom of the Viscounts of Turenne. It was exempt from paying taxes to the king of France and issued its own coin. By 1250 it was run by consul's controlled by the Turrene's and in turn paid homage to the Kings of France.

With the outbreak of the Hundred Year's War, and the region's status, as either French or English territory was not clearly established by the Treaty of Paris (1259) and the Treaty of Amiens (1279), the town would have to protect itself during the former and was besieged and held out against the English in 1356. It came under English control via the Treaty of Brétigny of 1360 and returned to the French side on 27 August 1374 when it was retaken by Bertrand du Guesclin.

During the French Wars of Religion, the town remained Catholic despite the Viscount being protestant, but the town and church were sacked in 1562 by the protestants.

On 8 May 1738, the Viscount of Turenne, needing money to pay off debts, sold the viscounty to Louis XV, and Martel and its inhabitants now had to pay their taxes to the king and lost all other privileges it had been given by the viscounty.

Geography

Martel is located about east of Souillac and north of the River Dordogne. To the north lies the commune of Cazillac, to the northeast Strenquels, to the east Saint-Denis-lès-Martel, to the southeast Floirac, to the south Montvalent, to the southwest Creysse, to the west Baladou and to the northwest Cuzance.

The countryside is rural with rolling hills, pastureland and the cultivation of walnuts. North of the town lies the elevated limestone plateau of Causse de Martel, much of which is covered with oak and beech woodland.

The town

Martel is a medieval town, with the older houses built of pale stone that contrasts with their reddish-brown roofs. The ramparts that used to surround the town are gone but in their place is a wide boulevard and the narrow-streeted central part is a pedestrian area. The town has a distinctive sky-line with medieval towers projecting above the houses, and because of these, the town is sometimes called ''La ville aux sept tours''. The highest tower is that of the Church of Saint-Maur.

There is an eighteenth-century market hall taking up most of the central cobbled square. Markets are held here on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and during late December or January there is an annual truffle market.

In July, the ''Foire à la Laine'' (Wool Fair) is held underneath the market hall, with competitions for the best fleeces. There is a museum containing items from Puy d'Issolud, a local Gallic archaeological site which has been identified as Uxellodunum, besieged by Julius Caesar in 51 BC.

Notable buildings and places

* Fossé des Cordeliera and Boulevard du Capitani - location of the old ramparts from twelve and thirteen centuries;
* Tournemire Tour - old prison;
* Rue Droite - old houses including Hôtel Vergnes-de-Ferron;
* Hôtel de Mirandol - 15th century house with a square tower;
* Maison Fabri - has a tower, and the location, in a previous building, of where Henry the Young King died;
* Place des Consuls - contains an 18th century covered market;
* Hôtel de la Raymondie - built around 1280 for the Turennes, converted into a mansion in 14th century for the Valon family. Became the town hall after the revolution;
* Hotel de la Minnaie on Rue Tournemire - 13th century mint;
* Maison Grise on Rue Tournemire - 16th century bust and shield with three hammers;
* Église St-Maur

Notable people

* Claudius Cayx-Dumas (1724–1792), French Jesuit.
* Jean Pierre Serrier (1934–1989), French artist, opened the gallery La Licorne in 1967.

See also

*Communes of the Lot department

References

External links

{{authority control

Communes of Lot (department)
Quercy
Henry the Young King