Lavaur, Tarn
| Lavaur | ||
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An aerial view of Lavaur
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 Lavaur
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Location within Occitanie region
Lavaur
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| Coordinates: 43°41′59″N 1°49′11″E / 43.6997°N 1.8197°ECoordinates: 43°41′59″N 1°49′11″E / 43.6997°N 1.8197°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Occitanie | |
| Department | Tarn | |
| Arrondissement | Castres | |
| Canton | Lavaur | |
| Intercommunality | Tarn et Agout | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2001–2008) | Bernard Carayon | |
| Area1 | 62.83 km2 (24.26 sq mi) | |
| Population (2006)2 | 10,369 | |
| • Density | 170/km2 (430/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 81140 / 81500 | |
| Elevation | 105–274 m (344–899 ft) (avg. 141 m or 463 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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Lavaur is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France. It lies 37 km southeast of Montauban by rail.
Contents
History[edit]
Lavaur was taken in 1211 by Simon de Montfort during the wars of the Albigenses, a monument marking the site where Dame Giraude de Laurac (Lady of Lavaur) was killed,[1] being thrown down a well and stoned to death.[2] The town was also taken several times during the religious wars of the 16th century.
Geography[edit]
Lavaur stands on the left bank of the Agout, which is here crossed by a railway-bridge and a fine stone bridge of the late 18th century.
Demographics[edit]
Population:
- 1906: town 4069; commune 6388
- 1999: commune 8537
- 2006: commune 10,369
Sights[edit]
From 1317 till the French Revolution Lavaur was the seat of a bishopric; Lavaur Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Alan, was built for this purpose, dating from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, with an octagonal bell-tower. A second, smaller square tower contains a jaquemart (a statue which strikes the hours with a hammer) of the 16th century. In the bishops garden is the statue of Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases, one of the companions of Napoleon at Saint Helena.
Economy[edit]
The town carries on distilling and flour-milling and the manufacture of brushes, plaster and wooden shoes.
Notable residents[edit]
- Pierre Fabre, founder of Laboratoires Pierre Fabre[3]
Miscellaneous[edit]
There is a subprefecture and a tribunal of first instance (a lower Court of Justice).
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ http://www.gite-piquetalen.fr/local.html
- ^ http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/fr-lr.html
- ^ "Pierre Fabre, founder of pharmaceutical giant, dies". Agence France Presse. France 24. 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
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