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South-west France contains
around 350 to 400 'Bastides', fortified communities
which were created in the 12th and 13th centuries to
accommodate the demographic and commercial expansion
into the area (mediaeval 'New Towns' in fact!)
A Bastide usually
has a square with a market hall at its centre and
from here the village reaches out to its fortified
boundary using a rectangular grid street layout, much like Monflanquin
(right). Sometimes a Bastide's outer ring of
fortification no longer exists as, for example, at Damazan. |
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Whilst these villages and towns are scattered all over Aquitaine, the
Lot-et-Garonne has by far and away the greatest number; the
map shows the principal Bastides in the department (note: we
are just north of Aiguillon)
Edward
I
discovered Bastides during his visits to Gascogne (the
area containing the Lot-et-Garonne), and subsequently had the
concept introduced into the design of the castles he built
in North Wales. Indeed,
the concept of 'les Bastides' quickly spread
across most of Europe. |
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Bastides served
four principle functions: Economic, Administrative,
Military and Religious.
Depending on their position
(hilltop, riverside, etc) they have some seven different,
but typical layouts, and many still have the original wooden
'Halle' at their centre.
One of the most beautiful of these is at Gontaud de Nogaret (left) founded in 1135. |
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Apx. 20 kms southwest of "la
Maison Pijot", between Damazan and Lavardac, lies Vianne
(right), a
beautiful mediaeval village with an old single-track toll
bridge and mill which sits on the banks of the lovely River Baiise.
Vianne is famous for being one of the very few bastide villages left in France to
have all four of its original gates still intact and is a
'must have' on your "list of places to visit"! |
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During the months
of July
and August, many local bastide towns and villages like
Vianne, Nerac, Laparade, Prayssas and Damazan, hold
fabulous night-markets which often play host to up to
2,000 local people dining and/or picnicking in their streets
- a wonderful experience which is definitely not to be
missed!! |
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Edward
I,
Henry
II,
Eleanor, Henri IV
(who was born in Nerac) - with names like these, you can see why a visit to Gascony
and the Lot-et-Garonne is a step back in time, a step that
is truly worth taking! |
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