Arlempdes

Arlempdes is a common department of the Haute-Loire, in the area Auvergne, in France, located at approximately 27 km in the south-east of the Puy-en-Velay.

Geography

The village of Arlempdes is mainly known for its splendid site like its castle éponyme. It is boxed at the bottom of the valley of the the Loire, to about thirty kilometers only of its source. A rock piton (volcanic Dyke) is used as pedestal with the ruins of the castle, which thus overhang the Rivière of hundreds of meters.

The landscape is dominated by superb basaltic castings, sometimes in the form of Orgue S, which testify to last the ic Volcan of the area. Its Celtic significance in : " the valley of the éboulis" is undoubtedly a reference to effrondrement of this organ, columns fractured in hundreds of more or less important rocks.

Arlempdes is the borough-center of a commune of 1.300 hectares dispersed in ten villages or Hameau X. The village itself counts only few inhabitants. It is a small village at the old houses and better and better renovated.

The site is to 7 km of the Trunk road 88, uniting Saint-Etienne (42) in the South of the France on the level of the village of Costaros.

History

The site of Arlempdes dominates a loop of the Loire and is used as " verrou" between several valleys. Thus it naturally was selected like military site. As of Antiquity, a Roman camp is installed on a neighbouring hill, the Camp of Antoune. It is occupied by the Roman conquerors at the time of the Guerre of Gaules (1st century before Jesus-Christ).

As of the Early middle ages, the Dyke of Arlempdes is inhabited. The Saint-Jacob vault, whose current construction dates from the 12th century, seems to be preceded by an older vault, which was used as starting point with the permanent installation inhabitants.

The castle is built 13th at the 16th century, with many rehandlings. It shows the characteristic to be completely overlapping in the rock and to adapt to its morphology. It thus does not present a traditional plan of feudal fortress. The ramparts are naturally prolonged by the volcanic rock, making a rise quasi-impossible. The function of the castle of Arlempdes is to protect the access towards North, therefore it is the target many covetousnesses.

Until the 16th century, it is had by various families of local lords, of which the family of Monlaur, very powerful in all the south of the Auvergne, or the family of Mirabel. It enters then the possessions of Diane of Poitiers, which explains the presence of its weapons engraved in a wall of the castle. The home seigneurial (of which there remains only one section of wall) was built during its possession. Thereafter, the fortress is used as garrison with the royal troops, under the direction, once again, of a local lord, like the family of Goÿs de Mézeyrac at the 18th century.

As of before the French revolution, the castle is abandoned: it does not have any more strategic interest. It falls then in ruins, the inhabitants being useful out of stones on the site. At the 19th century, it is sold for frank a symbolic system with the work of the Prado. In 1963, an association gathering of the descendants of the family of Goÿs de Mézeyrac and impassioned site repurchases the ruins and undertakes the restoration of the castle.

Administration

Demography

Economy

The village saw primarily Tourisme. The villages and localities of the commune are agricultural S.

Places and monuments

the medieval castle.
the Saint-Jacob vault. feudal Vault lately renovated.
the church of Romance Style with a Bell-tower with comb and a gate with columns.
For thirteen years has been held there Theatrical Velay, Festival of Théâtre being a success unceasingly growing. It is held in the low court of the castle.

Personalities related to the commune

See too

Common of the Haute-Loire

External bonds

Association Safeguards & Animation of the castle of Arlempdes
Visite of a tourist
Arlempdes on the site of the national geographical Institute
Arlempdes on the site of INSEE
Arlempdes on the site of Quid
Localization of Arlempdes on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plan on Arlempdes on Mapquest
the theatrical ones of Velay

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