Azille
Encyclopedia
Azille is a commune
in the Aude
department in southern France of the Languedoc-Roussillon
region.
many of which are preserved in the museum of Olonzac
. Recently a necropolis
of the visigoth
s has been discovered at the edge of the village. In the Middle Ages
, Azille was one of the important villages of the archidiocèse de Narbonne. In the the viallage supported the church of Saint Julien, part of the chapter of Saint Just of Narbonne, and two convents - les Cordeliers and the Abbaye Royale de Sainte Claire. In addition to these religious roles, the village was of two parish
es, St Julien et St André. The parish of Saint-André is only known today from ruins and the name of a quarter in the town.
St Julien fought in the siege of the archibishop of Minervois
. In the 14th century she received the title of “count”: Azilhan lo Comtal. Built on a rocky ledge, la town’s walls provided effective fortifications with minimal openings. In the 13th century, Azille was part of the cathar
inspiration and contained a house of the Perfected which was destroyed in the period of the Crusades. In 1289, 63 years after the death of François d'Assise, Eustache de Lévis restored the convent
of cordeliers situated outside the walls to the north of the city. In 1331, his daughter Isabelle de Lévis, widow of Bertrand de l'Isle founded The Royal Abbey of Sainte Claire (abbaye de Clarisses). The vestiges of the walls and some monuments are still visible today.
The town’s economy was based on wheat production, Azille wheat being highly prized in 19th century. Other major products have been olive oil and wine. The multitude of springs in the area allowed tanners and drapers to prosper. By the end of the 19th century with the arrival of the railway, further commerce developed, which in turn led to such bourgeois expansions as the château Gallimard where the musicien César Franck
stayed. The Midi Canalbuilt in 1666 crosses the commune for four km.
of Sainte Claire was sold after the French Revolution
although some vestiges remain around the church. Nuns returned to Azille in 1891 and built the new convent in the north of the modern town.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Aude
Aude
Aude is a department in south-central France named after the river Aude. The local council also calls the department "Cathar Country".Aude is also a frequent feminine French given name in Francophone countries, deriving initially from Aude or Oda, a wife of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and mother...
department in southern France of the Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the 27 regions of France. It comprises five departments, and borders the other French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées on the one side, and Spain, Andorra and the Mediterranean sea on the other side.-Geography:The region is...
region.
History
Azille contains vestiges of past civilisations from prehistory until today including cremations from the iron ageIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
many of which are preserved in the museum of Olonzac
Olonzac
Olonzac is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France....
. Recently a necropolis
Necropolis
A necropolis is a large cemetery or burial ground, usually including structural tombs. The word comes from the Greek νεκρόπολις - nekropolis, literally meaning "city of the dead"...
of the visigoth
Visigoth
The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths, the Ostrogoths being the other. These tribes were among the Germans who spread through the late Roman Empire during the Migration Period...
s has been discovered at the edge of the village. In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Azille was one of the important villages of the archidiocèse de Narbonne. In the the viallage supported the church of Saint Julien, part of the chapter of Saint Just of Narbonne, and two convents - les Cordeliers and the Abbaye Royale de Sainte Claire. In addition to these religious roles, the village was of two parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es, St Julien et St André. The parish of Saint-André is only known today from ruins and the name of a quarter in the town.
St Julien fought in the siege of the archibishop of Minervois
Minervois
Minervois is an AOC in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region. The red wines of the Minervois appellation are produced from Carignan , Grenache, Lledoner Pelut, Mourvedre, and Syrah grapes...
. In the 14th century she received the title of “count”: Azilhan lo Comtal. Built on a rocky ledge, la town’s walls provided effective fortifications with minimal openings. In the 13th century, Azille was part of the cathar
Cathar
Catharism was a name given to a Christian religious sect with dualistic and gnostic elements that appeared in the Languedoc region of France and other parts of Europe in the 11th century and flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries...
inspiration and contained a house of the Perfected which was destroyed in the period of the Crusades. In 1289, 63 years after the death of François d'Assise, Eustache de Lévis restored the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of cordeliers situated outside the walls to the north of the city. In 1331, his daughter Isabelle de Lévis, widow of Bertrand de l'Isle founded The Royal Abbey of Sainte Claire (abbaye de Clarisses). The vestiges of the walls and some monuments are still visible today.
The town’s economy was based on wheat production, Azille wheat being highly prized in 19th century. Other major products have been olive oil and wine. The multitude of springs in the area allowed tanners and drapers to prosper. By the end of the 19th century with the arrival of the railway, further commerce developed, which in turn led to such bourgeois expansions as the château Gallimard where the musicien César Franck
César Franck
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
stayed. The Midi Canalbuilt in 1666 crosses the commune for four km.
Significant Sites
The parish church of Saint Julien and Sainte Basilisse dates from the 14th century and is classified as an historic monument monument historique. It is a remarkable example of the gothique méridional style. The church and Azille was a site of departure for pilgrims of Compostelle. The fountain of source Saint Andre is today surrounded by a gothic structure dating from the 14th century. The AbbeyAbbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of Sainte Claire was sold after the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
although some vestiges remain around the church. Nuns returned to Azille in 1891 and built the new convent in the north of the modern town.