Castelnau-d'Auzan
Encyclopedia
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 Gers
Gers
The Gers is a department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the southwest of France named after the Gers River.Inhabitants are called les Gersois or Gersoises.-History:...
department in southwestern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography
A picturesque little village on the river GéliseGélise
- Etymology :The name Gélise comes from the Aquitanian hydronymic root Jel, meaning "watercourse."- Geography :The Gélise originates in the Gers département at Cahuzères, north of Lupiac, then it flows northwest in the direction of Eauze...
on a crossing of roads, 26 km (16.2 mi) east of the city of Condom
Condom, Gers
Condom , also referred to as Condom-en-Armagnac, is a commune in southwestern France in the department of Gers, of which it is a subprefecture.-Way of St. James:...
in the Gers bounding the departments Lot-et-Garonne
Lot-et-Garonne
Lot-et-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France named after the Lot and Garonne rivers.-History:Lot-et-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
and the Landes. It benefits of a privileged situation on the fringe the Landes forest
Landes forest
The Landes forest or the Landes of Gascony , in the historic Gascony region of southwestern France now known as Aquitaine, is the largest maritime-pine forest in Europe...
in the middle of an agreeable and fertile region. The village lies on the water parting between the Gélise and the Izaute
Izaute
- Geography :It has its origin in the commune Dému in the Gers it joins the Gélise on the boarder of Lot-et-Garonne close to Saint-Pé-Saint-Simon .- Departments and principal cities:* Gers: Lannepax, Bretagne-d'Armagnac, Cazeneuve, Labarrère...
and occupies the emplacement of an ancient castle.
The geographical situation is agreeable: the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast on one side and on the other side the ski resorts of the south of France are by car only a distance of 145 km (2 h 15 min).
History
The name Castelnau d'Auzan means: "Château Neuf in the land of Éauzan". The castle disappeared, but here and there in the village some remains are still visible.Sights
- Town hall.
- The arena for the course LandaiseCourse LandaiseThe course Landaise is an ancient form of bullfighting held in oval or rectangular arenas covered in sand, that does not involve any bloodshed. Experienced cows generally from the age of 2 and up to 14 years old are used instead of bulls. They are athletic animals selected from the same breed as...
. - Leisure area and its lake.
- Old Armagnac caves.
- Église Sainte Marie-Madeleine:
- In the centre of Castelnau, a neo Gothic church from the nineteenth century.
- Église Saint Jean de Béziey:
- A country side church from the eleventh century, well known by its miraculous source believed to cure illnesses of the eyes.
- Église Saint Martin d'Arèch:
- From the fifteenth century with a particular cylindrical bell-tower.
- Église de Rieupeyroux:
- A church in the countryside in the centre of Houeillères with a particular forged iron cross.
- Notre-Dame de Pibèque:
- A regional pilgrimage centre with a miraculous source. The splendid little church is a jewel and dates from the fifteenth century.
- In the surroundings of Castelnau d'Auzan
- The bastide of Bretagne-d'ArmagnacBretagne-d'ArmagnacBretagne-d'Armagnac is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
. - The Bastide Gasconne of FourcèsFourcèsFourcès is a commune in the Gers department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France.-Geography:Fourcès lies near Castelnau-d'Auzan and Montréal.The Auzoue flows north through the middle of the commune...
. - The city of Montréal-du-GersMontréal, GersMontréal is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.It lies not far from Castelnau-d'Auzan.-Geography:...
with a medieval bastide. - The city of EauzeEauzeÉauze is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-History:Éauze takes its names from the Gaulish Aquitani tribe of the Elusates....
and its Roman treasure. - The fortified village of LarressingleLarressingleLarressingle is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
. - The roman gaul villa of Séviac is located in Montréal-du-GersMontréal, GersMontréal is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.It lies not far from Castelnau-d'Auzan.-Geography:...
. - The Ganaderia de BurosBurosBuros is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
. - The museum of D'ArtagnanD'ArtagnanCharles Ogier de Batz de Castelmore, Comte d'Artagnan served Louis XIV as captain of the Musketeers of the Guard and died at the Siege of Maastricht in the Franco-Dutch War. A fictionalized account of his life by Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras formed the basis for the d'Artagnan Romances of...
in LupiacLupiacLupiac is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Geography:The Auzoue forms most of the commune's southeastern border.The Douze forms the commune's western border.-Population:-Literature:...
. - The SpaSpaThe term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
of Barbotan-les-Thermes in CazaubonCazaubonCazaubon is a commune in the Gers department of southwestern France.Besides the town of Cazaubon itself, the commune includes the adjacent spa town of Barbotan-les-Thermes.-Population:-References:*...
.
- The bastide of Bretagne-d'Armagnac
Population
The inhabitants are called Auzanais.Like in other communes
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 rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
France the canton has to face an important decrease of population. In 1962, the canton had 5938 citizens. In 1999, there were only 4741, which represents a decrease of 20%. This decrease is still continuing.
This phenomenon started, as in many other rural areas during the War of 1914-1918
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Many young men did not return home, with the consequences we still see to day. Lack of manpower changed the once wealthy and healthy pastoral area in a region where the population and wealth both decreased. New immigrants from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
compensated partly the loss in population.
After the independence of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, the French farmers and winemakers returning to the motherland were encouraged to settle down in the Gers.
All these waves of immigrants now are completely integrated.
Due to the changes in the rural economics the last decade agricultural land and farms were put on the market and sold to newcomers from the north of Europe, looking for an active countryside way of life.
Gradually immigration changed, nowadays retired people from the north European urban areas come to the Gers in search of idyllic homes for their retirement.
Features
Castelnau-d'Auzan is surrounded by vineyardVineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s, smoothly undulating hills and here and there a nice little village. The setting and ambiance are perfect for promenades by foot or by bicycle, or a little play of golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
on the splendid Golf de Guinlet, which is on five minutes distance of the village.
Because of its landscapes the Gers is now and then called the "Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
of France". The summers are long and warm; the winters are warm and short. In the neighborhood are numerous old castles, little medieval walled villages, small cities built around castles and "sacred" places, because the Way of St. James
Way of St. James
The Way of St. James or St. James' Way is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried....
of Compostela and the Via Podiensis are going through the Gers and left their traces.
Tourism and culture
Local associations develop numerous activities which make it possible to share the local passion for: the nature, good walking bicycling routes, traditional skittle and ball games quilles au maillet) and palet gascon; courses LandaisesCourse Landaise
The course Landaise is an ancient form of bullfighting held in oval or rectangular arenas covered in sand, that does not involve any bloodshed. Experienced cows generally from the age of 2 and up to 14 years old are used instead of bulls. They are athletic animals selected from the same breed as...
a daring and innocent game with wild cows; old fashioned battue hunting; local feasts; and gastronomy.
The leisure area offers during the summer holidays the children collective and individual games, trips in to the nature and theme days. The leisure area offers a wide range of amusement in a splendid green neighbourhood with swimming pool, children's pool and game zone, two tennis courts, a beach volley ball court, a fitness circuit, a fishing lake of 3 hectares, pick-nick places and perfect walking and bicycle routes.
Castelnau d'Auzan is today a perfect place to be for a short or longer time. A lot of healthy occupations are possible, cultural and gastronomic trips and you simply can take a rest. The visit card of the region: a fine glass of Côtes de Gascogne, Saint-Mont
Saint-Mont
Saint-Mont is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:-Saint-Mont wine:Wines are produced under the VDQS designation Saint-Mont and the area's vineyards are part of the South West France wine region...
or Madiran
Madiran
Madiran is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.It is the centre of a wine producing area.-Madiran wine:Wine is produced around Madiran under three Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées : Madiran for powerful red wines primarily from the grape variety Tannat, Pacherenc du...
or if you like a Floc de Gascogne
Floc de Gascogne
The Floc de Gascogne is a regional apéritif from the Côtes de Gascogne and Armagnac regions of Sud-Ouest wine region of France. It is a vin de liqueur fortified with armagnac, the local brandy...
and a good conversation. With measure it also nice to consume a glass Armagnac
Armagnac (drink)
Armagnac is a distinctive kind of brandy or eau de vie produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of Armagnac grapes, including Baco 22A, Colombard, and Ugni Blanc, using column stills rather than the pot stills used in the...
, a good cassoulet
Cassoulet
Cassoulet is a rich, slow-cooked bean stew or casserole originating in the south of France, containing meat , pork skin and white haricot beans....
, a typical confit de canard or a small piece of foie gras
Foie gras
Foie gras ; French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage corn, according to French law, though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding...
.
Events
- Easter Monday: attic, antique and garage sale with course Landaise.
- The before last weekend of July: local feasts with village dinners in the open air, attic sales and time-honoured skittle and ball games
- First weekend of August: feast in Arèch with open air dinner and ball and numerous attractions.
- Third weekend of August: feast in Houeillères with open air dinner and ball and numerous attractions.
Personalities
- Joseph Nicolas Barbeau Barran was a delegate in the National ConventionNational ConventionDuring the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
and the Chambre des Cent Jours, born in Castelnau-d'Auzan in 1761, he died in 1816 in Switzerland. At the trial of Louis XVILouis XVI of FranceLouis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
he voted guilty and for the death penalty. He was President of the Jacobin ClubJacobin ClubThe Jacobin Club was the most famous and influential political club in the development of the French Revolution, so-named because of the Dominican convent where they met, located in the Rue St. Jacques , Paris. The club originated as the Club Benthorn, formed at Versailles from a group of Breton...
and an antagonist of Robespierre. At the second Restoration in 1816 he was, because of the assassination of the king, condemned to exile and he went to Switzerland. - General Henri de Mibielle was born in Castelnau d'Auzan in 1841, died in 1910; his tomb is on the cemetery of Béziey.
Transportation
The village can easily be reached by car or train. Nearby rail stations are: Mont-de-MarsanMont-de-Marsan
Mont-de-Marsan is a commune and capital of the Landes department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.Mont-de-Marsan airbase « Constantin Rozanoff » is a major installation of the French Air Force. The base includes CEAM , an air defense radar command reporting centre, and an air defence control...
(55 km - 1h00m), Agen
Agen
Agen is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in Aquitaine in south-western France. It lies on the river Garonne southeast of Bordeaux. It is the capital of the department.-Economy:The town has a higher level of unemployment than the national average...
(65 km - 1h05m) and Auch
Auch
Auch is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Midi-Pyrénées, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony.-The Ausci:...
(70 km - 1h05m).
Three airports are in the neighbourhood: Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
(140 km - 2h10m), Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
(150 km -1h50m) and Pau (100 km - 1h40m).