Lavaur, Tarn

Lavaur

An aerial view of Lavaur

Coat of arms
Lavaur

Coordinates: 43°41′59″N 1°49′11″E / 43.6997°N 1.8197°E / 43.6997; 1.8197Coordinates: 43°41′59″N 1°49′11″E / 43.6997°N 1.8197°E / 43.6997; 1.8197
Country France
Region Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées
Department Tarn
Arrondissement Castres
Canton Lavaur
Intercommunality Tarn et Agout
Government
 • Mayor (2001–2008) Bernard Carayon
Area1 62.83 km2 (24.26 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 10,369
 • Density 170/km2 (430/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 81140 / 81500
Elevation 105–274 m (344–899 ft)
(avg. 141 m or 463 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Lavaur is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France. It lies 37 km southeast of Montauban by rail.

History

Lavaur was taken in 1211 by Simon de Montfort during the wars of the Albigenses, a monument marking the site where Dame Giraude de Laurac (Lady of Lavaur) was killed,[1] being thrown down a well and stoned to death.[2] The town was also taken several times during the religious wars of the 16th century.

Geography

Lavaur stands on the left bank of the Agout, which is here crossed by a railway-bridge and a fine stone bridge of the late 18th century.

Demographics

Population:

1906: town 4069; commune 6388
1999: commune 8537
2006: commune 10,369

Sights

Lavaur Cathedral

From 1317 till the French Revolution Lavaur was the seat of a bishopric; Lavaur Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Alan, was built for this purpose, dating from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, with an octagonal bell-tower. A second, smaller square tower contains a jaquemart (a statue which strikes the hours with a hammer) of the 16th century. In the bishops garden is the statue of Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases, one of the companions of Napoleon at Saint Helena.

Economy

The town carries on distilling and flour-milling and the manufacture of brushes, plaster and wooden shoes.

Notable residents

Miscellaneous

There is a subprefecture and a tribunal of first instance (a lower Court of Justice).

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.gite-piquetalen.fr/local.html
  2. ↑ http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/fr-lr.html
  3. ↑ "Pierre Fabre, founder of pharmaceutical giant, dies". Agence France Presse (France 24). 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
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