Quercy

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Quercy [ kɛʀˈsi ] ( Occitan Carcin [ kaɾˈsi ], locally also [ kɔɾˈʃi ]) is a former French province in the south-west of the country. It borders the Limousin to the north, the Périgord and the Agenais to the west, the Gascogne and Languedoc to the south and the Rouergue and the Auvergne to the east .

Château de Belcastel near Lacave

Toponym

The name is probably derived from the Latin name Cadurcinum , which in turn to the - - perhaps immigrated from southern Germany Celtic tribe of the Kadurker points. The terms Haute-Guyenne and Quercy are often used synonymously.

geography

Georges Émile Lebacq - Way at Carennac (around 1935)
Rocamadour

location

Since the Revolution the Quercy is the department Lot and Tarn et Garonne divided, wherein the former and the northern half of the latter showing the principal part. Geographically, a distinction is also made between the Haut-Quercy (around Figeac , Rocamadour and Cahors ) and the Bas Quercy or Quercy Blanc (around Montauban and Moissac ).

landscape

The rugged and wooded center of the Haut-Quercy has the character of a low mountain range, with the highest elevations just 400 meters above sea level. d. Reach M. The landscape formations flatten noticeably to the south and southwest.

Cities

The traditional capital of the Quercy is Cahors , now the prefecture of the Lot department. The largest city, on the other hand, is Montauban, the prefecture of the Tarn-et-Garonne department on the former border between the Quercy and Languedoc, an area that is very different from the rest of the province and historically and culturally has always been close to Toulouse and the rest of the world Languedoc was ajar and should therefore not be regarded as an integral part of the Quercy.

The largest cities in the Quercy are Montauban (approx. 56,000 inhabitants), Cahors (approx. 20,000 inhabitants), Moissac (approx. 12,000 inhabitants) and Figeac (almost 10,000 inhabitants).

Rivers

The main rivers in the Quercy are the Lot and its tributary Célé . The Dordogne forms roughly the northern and the Aveyron the eastern and southern borders of the historical province. In the southwest near Moissac, the Tarn forms the southern border of the Quercy.

climate

The climate in the Haut Quercy is influenced to a great extent by the Massif Central - the maximum daily temperatures are around 30 ° C in summer and around 10 ° C in winter, with minus degrees being common on cloudless winter nights. In the consistently warmer Bas-Quercy , Atlantic climatic influences can also be felt - the maximum daily temperatures are a maximum of 35 ° C in summer and around 15 ° C in winter; Night frosts are very rare.

population

The Quercy is 6,987 square kilometers and had 275,984 inhabitants at the 1999 census, which corresponds to a population density of 40 people per square kilometer. If you subtract the inhabitants of the city of Montauban, the population is reduced to 224,129 and the population density to 33 inhabitants per square kilometer.

economy

The Quercy has always been characterized by agriculture, with traditional arable farming taking a back seat to cattle breeding (cattle, pigs, geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens) due to the often rugged landscape formations and the stony ground. Typical and valuable side products in the Haut-Quercy area are saffron and truffles ; also chestnuts , nuts and fruit are typical products of the northern Quercy. In the southwest of the Quercy, however, agriculture dominates (wheat, corn, sunflowers); viticulture is also practiced in the vicinity of the cities of Cahors , Montauban and Moissac. In contrast, there are hardly any industrial establishments.

history

In the north of the Quercy in particular there are several large stone graves ( dolmen ) from the time of the megalithic cultures ; single standing menhirs are rather rare here - unlike in the neighboring Rouergue . Also in the north of the Quercy, near Vayrac and Saint-Denis-lès-Martel, was probably the Celtic oppidum Uxellodunum , which was built by Julius Caesar's troops in 51 BC. BC, one year after the Battle of Alesia , was taken. It was the last great battle in the Gallic War .

Way of St. James in the Middle Ages

Since late antiquity, Cahors has been a bishopric. A document from around 780 speaks of a district called Cadurcensis pagus , which was incorporated into the county of Toulouse in the 9th century . In the Middle Ages, one of the Way of St. James ( Via Podiensis ) led from Le Puy via Figeac, Cahors and Moissac across the Quercy, which with Rocamadour had one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in France. In the early 13th century the south of the Quercy came under the influence of Cathar teachings; At the end of the 13th century, the Haute-Guyenne was involved in the territorial conflicts between England and France, which ultimately culminated in the Hundred Years War (1337-1453). In the years 1373-1380 Bertrand du Guesclin conquered the area back for the French crown. The Bas-Quercy came under Protestant influence in the 16th century , while the Haut-Quercy remained Catholic. In 1779 the historic province of the Rouergue was annexed to the Quercy. The French Revolution respected in the division of the department largely the old borders of Quercy and created for the department of Lot of which in 1808 parts of Tarn-et-Garonne the newly created department were slammed shut.

Attractions

Village church in the Quercy

The Quercy is rich in scenic (e.g. Regional Natural Park Causses du Quercy or the Gouffre de Padirac ) and cultural attractions: prehistoric caves (e.g. Pech-Merle ) can be found as well as some of the most beautiful villages in France (e.g. . Autoire , Capdenac , Cardaillac , Carennac , Loubressac , Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in the north and Bruniquel and Lauzerte in the south and in the southwest). Important Romanesque churches (e.g. the former abbey churches of Saint-Pierre (Carennac) , Sainte-Marie in Souillac or Saint-Pierre in Moissac ) can be admired as well as simple village churches, spectacularly situated medieval pilgrimage sites (e.g. Rocamadour ) or Castles (e.g. the Château de Belcastel near Lacave ). Medieval castles and renaissance chateaux (e.g. Assier Castle ) are rather rare in the Quercy. The Pont Valentré in Cahors is the most important example of a medieval bridge near the city in all of France.

Others

Like the Périgord , the Quercy is also known for its regional cuisine, which has received multiple awards and is essentially based on the preparation of poultry ( goose and duck ) (see foie gras and confits ). Also truffles , chestnuts , nuts and fruit (apples, pears, figs, etc.) are included.

Personalities

literature

Web links

Commons : Quercy  - collection of images, videos and audio files