Foundation of Mount-with-Marsan : a city, three boroughs

Borg Vieilh (old city)

At the beginning of the 12th century, the small borough which surrounded the old castle (site of the current theater) covered a weak perimeter and was to be simply closed of a ditch.

Borg Nau (new city)

In 1133, Pierre de Lobaner, Viscount of Marsan, founds officially the city. It creates the new borough (or Castelnau), including Borg Vieilh, closed between Twelve and Midou. To protect it, him and its successors make build powerful fortifications between the two rivers, prolong the rampart S along the Twelve, and towards the south to the confluence of Midou. All these Fortification S is built in stones coquillères, typical of Mons medieval architecture. It remains of this time some vestiges:

• ramparts,

• Romance house,
• keep Lacataye,
• Castle of Nolibos.

Borg of Make (city of the Fountain)

Hardly last the medium of XIIe century, the city exceeds its limits first between Twelve and Midou. Connected to the city by the bridge of Pierre (today, bridge of the Town hall), the agglomeration crossed Midou.

On left bank develops a commercial district, the Borough of Make, around a street which goes up (the current street Gambetta), and stops with the crossroads (today of the four cantons). The district of the port, along the Midouze, starts to be born.

In XIVe century, the city continues to extend towards what will be the Saint-Roch place and along the Midouze towards the place from the Trade. Gaston Phébus, under the threats caused by the War One hundred Year old, protects the borough from ramparts. The entry of the city by the door of Roquefort is forsaken little by little for the door of Saint-Sever. With the XVIII° century, the district of the port develops along Midouze.

Entirely strengthened, Mount-of-Marsan the surface had thus reached which will be his during nearly six centuries.

See too

• Tourism in the Moors
• History of the Moors (department)