Castelnau-d'Auzan

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Coordinates: 43°56′57″N 0°05′11″E / 43.94916, 0.08638

Commune of Castelnau-d'Auzan

Coat of arms of Castelnau-d'Auzan
Location
Castelnau-d'Auzan (France)
Castelnau-d'Auzan
Administration
Country France
Region Midi-Pyrénées
Department Gers
Arrondissement Condom
Canton Montréal
Intercommunality none
Mayor Philippe Beyries
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 82 m–186 m
(avg. 203 m)
Land area¹ 43.79 km²
Population²
(1999)		 1,036
 - Density 23/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 32079/ 32440
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France
Vineyard in Castelnau-d'Auzan
Vineyard in Castelnau-d'Auzan

Castelnau-d'Auzan is a village and commune in southwest France, in French called the Sud-Ouest, more precisely in Gascony, in the Gers department which is a part of the French region Midi-Pyrénées. The inhabitants are called Auzanais.

Contents

[edit] Geography

A picturesque little village on the river Gélise on a crossing of roads, 26 km east of the city of Condom in the Gers bounding the departments Lot-et-Garonne and the Landes. It benefits of a privileged situation on the fringe the Landes forest in the middle of an agreeable and fertile region. The village lays on the water parting between the Gélise and the Izaute and occupies the emplacement of an ancient castle.

The geographical situation is agreeable: the Atlantic coast on one side and on the other side the ski resorts of the south of France are by car only on a distance of 145km (2h15m).

The village is a part of the canton of Montréal.

[edit] History

The name Castelnau d'Auzan means: "Château Neuf in the land of Éauzan". The castle disappeared, but here and there in the village some remains are still visible.

[edit] Special places and monuments

  • Town hall.
  • The arena for the course Landaise.
  • Leisure area and its lake.
  • Old Armagnac caves.
  • Église Sainte Marie-Madeleine:
    • In the centre of Castelnau, a neo Gothic church from the 19th century.
  • Église Saint Jean de Béziey:
    • A country side church from the 11th century, well known by its miraculous source believed to cure illnesses of the eyes.
  • Église Saint Martin d'Arèch:
    • From the 15th century with a particular cylindrical bell-tower.
  • Église de Rieupeyroux:
    • A church in the countryside in the centre of Houeillères with a particular forged iron cross.
  • Notre-Dame de Pibèque:
    • A regional pilgrimage centre with a miraculous source. The splendid little church is a jewel and dates from the 15th century.
  • In the surroundings of Castelnau d'Auzan

[edit] Demography

The graph hereunder shows the number of inhabitants by year. (Source: INSEE).

The commune is a part of the canton of Montréal where according the last population count of 1999 only 4.741 inhabitants are living a surface of more than 240 km².

Like in other communes in rural France the canton has to face an important decrease of population. In 1962 the canton had 5.938 citizens. At the last count of the population in 1999 only 4.741 inhabitants could be counted, which a decrease of 20% is. This decrease is still continuing.

Young people leave the area, the old stay behind.

This phenomenon started, as in many other rural areas during the War of 1914-1918. Many young men did not return home, with the consequences we still see to day. Lack of manpower changed the once wealthy and healthy pastoral area in a region where the population and wealth both decreased. New immigrants from Spain and Italy compensated partly the loss in population.

After the independence of Algeria, the French farmers and winemakers returning to the motherland were encouraged to settle down in the Gers.

All these waves of immigrants now are completely integrated.

Due to the changes in the rural economics the last decade agricultural land and farms were put on the market and sold to newcomers from the north of Europe, looking for an active countryside way of life.

Gradually immigration changed, now a days retired people from the north European urban areas come to the Gers in search of idyllic homes for there retirement.

[edit] Features

Castelnau-d'Auzan is surrounded by vineyards, smoothly undulating hills and here and there a nice little village. The setting and ambiance are perfect for promenades by foot or by bicycle, or a little play of golf on the splendid Golf de Guinlet, which is on five minutes distance of the village.

Because of its landscapes the Gers is now and then called the "Tuscany of France". The summers are long and warm; the winters are warm and short. In the neighborhood are numerous old castles, little medieval walled villages, small cities built around castles and "sacred" places, because the Way of St. James of Compostela and the Via Podiensis are going through the Gers and left their traces.

The Saint-Jacob shell, symbol of the Way of St. James of Compostela.
The Saint-Jacob shell, symbol of the Way of St. James of Compostela.

Close to the "place de la Mairie" with the pretty town hall you will find the oldest street of Castelnau the "rue du Canon". This spot survived everything, invasions, wars and whatever it dates from the 15th century.

[edit] Tourism and culture

Local associations develop numerous activities which make it possible to share the local passion for: the nature, good walking bicycling routes, traditional skittle and ball games quilles au maillet) and palet gascon; courses Landaises a daring and innocent game with wild cows; old fashioned battue hunting; local feasts; and gastronomy.

The leisure area offers during the summer holidays the children collective and individual games, trips in to the nature and theme days. The leisure area offers a wide range of amusement in a splendid green neighbourhood with swimming pool, children's pool and game zone, two tennis courts, a beach volley ball court, a fitness circuit, a fishing lake of 3 hectares, pick-nick places and perfect walking and bicycle routes.

Castelnau d'Auzan is today a perfect place to be for a short or longer time. A lot of healthy occupations are possible, cultural and gastronomic trips and you simply can take a rest. The visit card of the region: a fine glass of Côtes de Gascogne, Saint-Mont or Madiran or if you like a Floc de Gascogne and a good conversation. With measure it also nice to consume a glass Armagnac, a good cassoulet, a typical confit de canard or a small piece of foie gras.

[edit] Traditional festivities

  • Easter Monday: attic, antique and garage sale with course Landaise.
  • The before last weekend of July: local feasts with village dinners in the open air, attic sales and time-honoured skittle and ball games
  • First weekend of August: feast in Arèch with open air dinner and ball and numerous attractions.
  • Third weekend of August: feast in Houeillères with open air dinner and ball and numerous attractions.

[edit] Known personalities

  • Joseph Nicolas Barbeau Barran was a delegate in the National Convention and the Chambre des Cent Jours, born in Castelnau-d'Auzan in 1761, he died in 1816 in Switzerland. At the trial of Louis XVI he voted guilty and for the death penalty. He was President of the Jacobin Club and an antagonist of Robespierre. At the second Restoration in 1816 he was, because of the assassination of the king, condemned to exile and he went to Switzerland.
  • General Henri de Mibielle was born in Castelnau d'Auzan in 1841, died in 1910; his tomb is on the cemetery of Béziey.

[edit] Transportation

The village can easily be reached by car or train. Nearby rail stations are: Mont-de-Marsan (55 km - 1h00m), Agen (65 km - 1h05m) and Auch (70 km - 1h05m).

Three airports are in the neighbourhood: Toulouse (140 km - 2h10m), Bordeaux (150 km -1h50m) and Pau (100 km - 1h40m).

[edit] External links