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Le Lauragais by Jean Odol

This territory has formed it's identity during centuries, it's name comes from Laurac, the region where Laurac was the capital (castrum) from XI century till the XIII century. Then the capital was moved to Castelnaudary and St Papoul.

The strongest traces of this past are to be found in the middle ages, where the permeation of the cathare religion was particularly strong. The ideas that this religion defended were quickly rejected by Rome who enforced a terrible repression. The first stage being the crusade against the Albigeois which aimed to get the heretics back to the catholic faith. From 1229 to 1229 the Lauragais was the scene of many battles. This repressions didn't manage to eliminate all traces of Catharism and it took another century before the inquisitors had come to the end of the heretics.

In 1317 the Lauragais became a diocese, then a county in 1477 under Louis XI (Catherine de Medicis, whose mother was Lauragais, was the famous countess) and a seneschalsy from 1554. In 1789 the region was cut in half to form two departments : Villefranche and Castelnaudary.

Villefranche Castelnaudary

It's only in 1920-1925 that local identity became apparent. The central authorities asked for precise community names and it was with a proud rush that Lauragais was added to place names (Montbrun Lauragais, Belpech Lauragais, Montegut Lauragais). This pride was fired by the incredible richness that the name inspired : it's mythical wood country but also one of wheat, wool and meat, a real cocagne country*.

*Land of plenty

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