On both sides of the river Vendinelle extends the charming village of Auriac-sur-Vendinelle. This place, today calm and peaceful, comes alive on several occasions each year, thanks to an unusual and renowned festive program. It is therefore difficult to imagine that this village, whose first traces of existence date back to Roman times, experienced dark and tormented times. Let's take advantage of its atypical heritage to evoke 2000 years of history in Lauragais.
At the origins of the village
The village would take its name fromAurus, a Roman settler who owned, before the Frankish conquest, an estate away from the village.
But it was at the beginning of the Middle Ages that Auriac reached its peak, with the erection of a fortified castle on the highest point of the village. It was dominated by a collective of lords who each received income from justice and taxes of all kinds. In the 13th century, these lords were affected bycathar heresy (at the beginning of the 5th century, XNUMX Cathar houses were counted).
The Chapel of Noumérens, a rare heritage in AURAGAIS
Dating from the 1th century, this chapel has a very beautiful Romanesque chrism above the portal. It is one of the rare examples of Romanesque architecture in Lauragais. Access is on foot via a XNUMXkm dirt road.
Access
The Chapel is served by a small dirt road. You can get there by following these directions:
- From Auriac-sur-Vendinelle, take the D20 towards Falga.
- After 3km, you will arrive at a place called En Papet. At the sign, take the small path on the right.
- The road will no longer be paved after 200m but the path (1,5km) is still passable in good weather, or very pleasant to walk on foot.
The 16th century and the wars of religion
The course of history turned violent in 1562. It was the year of the outbreak of the first religious war between Protestants and Catholics. Auriac was pillaged and burned several times by Protestants in 1563, 1568, 1570...and by the Catholic troops of the Duke of Joyeuse in 1591.
In 1625, when Catholics once again became the majority in the region, the king ordered the destruction of the castle, for fear that Protestants would use it again as a refuge.
In the 17th century, Auriac was attached to the lordship of Loubens who then knows his golden age.
Major developments mark the 19th century: the hall was built in 1870 to promote trade. The village then has nearly 2000 inhabitants. Rich families live there like the dʼArailhs, the Toulouse Lautrecs, or the Bonnefoys. They were large landowners, who owned several farms, taking advantage of the wealth of the land's fruits.
There were numerous fairs and markets throughout the year. The village also had 5 or 6 mills (water, wind).
At the beginning of the 20th century, Auriac was served by the “little black train” which linked Toulouse to Revel. The line was closed after the Second World War due to road competition.
Today, Auriac-sur-Vendinelle is a peaceful village of just over 1000 inhabitants which does not lack dynamism with numerous festive events throughout the year, including the famous street arts festival which takes place in spring, “Festival des Ruelles dʼAuriac”
THE Alley Festival and the living arts in the countryside
Since 2010, this festive weekend dedicated to street arts has been a highlight of Spring in Lauragais. On both sides of the Vendinelle, many local artists come and share their worlds, which are as crazy as they are touching.
The surprise is around the corner of every alley!
Useful information
- Noumerens chapel: visible from the outside, cannot be visited
- Market : every Tuesday morning under the Grande Halle
- Picnic area., games for children and toilets on the banks of the Vendinelle
