Saissac

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Saissac
Saissac coat of arms
Saissac (France)
Saissac
region Occitania
Department Aude
Arrondissement Carcassonne
Canton La Malpère à la Montagne Noire
Community association Montagne Noire
Coordinates 43 ° 22 ′  N , 2 ° 10 ′  E Coordinates: 43 ° 22 ′  N , 2 ° 10 ′  E
height 166-742 m
surface 57.03 km 2
Residents 929 (January 1, 2017)
Population density 16 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code 11310
INSEE code 11367
Website www.saissac.fr

Saissac - the townscape

Saissac ( Occitan : Saissac ) is a French commune with 929 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Aude department in the Occitanie region ; it belongs to the Arrondissement of Carcassonne and the canton of La Malpère à la Montagne Noire .

location

Saissac lies at an altitude of 467 meters on a rocky ridge of the Cabardès , formed by the Vernassonne river and a right tributary through a gorge . The place is about 85 kilometers (driving distance) southeast of Toulouse ; the next largest cities are Carcassonne and Castelnaudary (each about 25 kilometers to the south-east and west respectively).

Population development

year 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2008 2016
Residents 587 705 652 709 867 923 981 930

economy

In Saissac and its surroundings, which consisted of forest and scrub-like scrub , only a small amount of agriculture could be practiced; The focus of agricultural production was therefore fruit growing and cattle breeding (sheep, goats). The sheep's wool was - mostly in winter - combed, spun and woven; The skills acquired and developed over centuries - combined with sufficient water power - led to the emergence of several smaller textile companies in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, in which fabrics were milled, woven and dyed.

history

The history of the former castrum is closely connected to a castle that is mentioned here as early as 960 and has been rebuilt or rebuilt again and again. Right at the beginning of the Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229) Bouchard I. de Marly seized the place and its castle, although it is still not clear whether the Lords of Saissac sympathized with the Cathars ; a few years after his death (1226) it fell to Lambert de Thurey, one of his former comrades in arms. In the early 16th century the castle belonged at times to a family that had become rich through the trade in woad ( pastel ). In the years 1568 and 1580, during the Huguenot Wars (1562–1598), the place was attacked twice by Protestant soldiers and rioters and partially destroyed; however, the castle turned out to be not vulnerable.

Attractions

Château de Saissac
Château de Saissac
  • The huge area (approx. 40 × 120 meters) of the castle ruins of the Château de Saissac is located on a rocky outcrop at the southern end of the village. Most of the remains that are visible today date from the 13th to 16th centuries. Although the building had already fallen into disrepair in the 18th century and was used as a quarry during the French Revolution , in 1920 Henri Dupuy Mazel, a cinéast and writer, acquired the walls and converted part of the building into residential use. After his death (1994), his heirs bequeathed the castle to the Saissac municipality. During the renovation work in 1997, a medieval coin treasure (2000 denarii) was discovered in the old walls, which had been searched for as early as the middle of the 19th century. Saissac Castle has been recognized as a Monument historique since 1926 .
  • In the middle of today's town there are still several medieval defense towers that were part of the city fortifications ( remparts ); the Lamoyne tour has probably always served as a watchtower and church tower.
  • Several coats of arms have been preserved at the Porte d'Autan .
  • The building called Maison Soldano originally dates from the 13th century, but has been rebuilt several times.
  • The Hôtel de Saptes belonged to a wealthy family of cloth merchants in the 16th century.
  • The Musée des Vieux Métiers is dedicated to old craft trades and shows the associated equipment.

  • Saissac

  • Water channel ( béal )

  • Tour Lamoyne

Web links

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

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Château de Saissac in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)