Limoux

Limoux (occitan: Limós ) is a common French, located in the department of the Aude and the area Languedoc-Roussillon. Its inhabitants is called Limouxins.

Geography

Situation

Localization

The commune is located in the Département of the Aude in area Languedoc-Roussillon at the south of France. Crossed by the river of the Aude, the commune is with twenty kilometers in the South of the town of Carcassonne at the entry of the high valley in full heart of the Razès.

The communes bordering are Gaja-and-Villedieu, Malras, Worthy-with Downstream in the west, Magrie, Cournanel, Alet-the-Baths in the south, Véraza, Saint-Polycarpe, Villar-Saint-Anselme in the east, Pieusse and Saint-Martin-with-Villereglan in north.

Climate

The climate of Limoux is of standard Mediterranean with hot and dry summers and soft and not very rainy winters. Snow is rare, the almost non-existent fog, the days of wind are numerous with the predominance of the marine wind of the east and the Cers of north. The temperatures go down little in lower part from 0°C in winter. The autumns and springs are soft. Pluviometry is rather weak all the year.

Transportation routes and transport

Limoux is located on the secondary road 118 connecting Mazamet to Quillan while passing by Carcassonne North-South and is directed, then being transformed into secondary road 117 until Perpignan. This road was displaced in secondary road in the years 1970 after being named Trunk road 118. It connected Albi to Mount-Louis via Castres, Mazamet, Carcassonne, Limoux and Quillan. The secondary road is from now on in the course of installation in double track as with Cépie in the north of Limoux, because it is a major axis which makes it possible to serve the high valley of the Aude. The North-East, secondary road 623 makes it possible to join Castelnaudary. Lastly, secondary road 620, a less important axis, joined in the east Chalabre which then makes it possible to go to Foix.

Limoux is served by the train with the line the SNCF Carcassonne-Quillan. This line joined Lapradelle-Puilaurens formerly but was closed with circulation in 1939 starting from Quillan. The Carcassonne-Quillan part was often also threatened of closing in the years 1970 due to Rentabilité. However, its state improved thanks to putting into circulation of a FOR THE THIRD TIME of last generation. In 2007, six daily return tickets between Carcassonne and Limoux were proposed with the public. The station of Limoux is located at the east of the city.

A daily connection of Coach between Carcassonne and Limoux supplements the railway line. No airport exists in Limoux, the airport of Carcassonne in Country Cathare located at Carcassonne is closest.

Site

The site is crossed by the river of the Aude and consists of a zone punt along the Aude and of hills and surrounding slopes forming a basin where the essence of the urban part of the commune is. This basin is opened in north and the south with the passage of the Aude forming a Vallon. To the west a river (the cougaing) form a small valley enters the hills until Worthy-with Downstream. In the south, the valley is tightened on the Aude until Alet-the-Baths. On the contrary, to north, the landscape extends and offers more a large surface for the dwellings.

Urban morphology

The two banks of the river are strongly urbanized. The initial core is located between the Pont-Vieux and the Saint Martin's day church on left bank. Then the two banks urbanize beyond the initial ramparts especially in 1260 and 1270 with the construction of the Pont-neuf and the place of the market.

Today, the banks of the river are strongly urbanized and the dwellings are built on the hills in the middle of the Garrigue and of the Vigne S. In north and the south, at the exit of the city, the zones of marketing activities gather shopping malls and some companies like the industrial park of the Pyrenees, the zone of activity of Razès and Occitanie in north and the industrial park of the road of Alet and the zone of activity of the plain in the south.

Town planning

Housing

Limoux counted: 3934 residences in 1999 for: 9411 inhabitants is approximately 2,4 people per dwelling. The new buildings are not very present and housing stock is rather old since 75% of the main homes were built before 1974. Constructions former to 1949 account for even 37% % of the park.

88,9% of the residences are main homes, distributed with 73,2% in houses and 26,8% in apartments (respectively 59,1% and 40,9% in the area). 54,4% of the inhabitants are owners of their housing, against 41,7% which are only tenants (respectively 56,8% and 37,6% in the area).

It should be noted that with 233 residences HLM of the park in 1999 (9,6% in the area) is 5,9%, the city does not respect the provisions of article 55 of the law solidarity and urban renewal (SRU) of December 2000 fixing at 20% the minimum rate of social housing for the most important communes. One can note moreover that the number of vacant housings was rather important in 1999 with 8,3% of the park compared with only 7,7% in the area.

The majority of the dwellings have 4 parts (70,3%), or 3 parts (18,4%), then 2 parts (8,4%). The small residences remain far from numerous (studios: 2,9%). The city has consequently residences of important size because of nonrestricted real space, allowing great constructions, and because of weak demand for small residences. Finally it should be specified that these residences are well equipped since 81,7% have the central heating and 62,7% have a garage, box or carpark (respectively 76,5% and 61,7% for the area).

Projects of installation

August 1st

History

Origins

The town of Limoux is occupied since the Neolithic . The Menhir of " Pierre Droite" is a vestige which attests this early occupation. Originally founded on the hill of Flassian, the city migrated until in edge of the Aude. It is besides the meeting of these two habitats, Flacianum and Limosus which, according to any probability, is at the origin of the foundation at the 8th century of the town of Limoux. The agglomeration developed around its church.

In 844, a charter of Charles the Bald person allots the city to the Abbaye of Saint-Hilaire. At the 9th century, Limoux is mentioned for the first time in the Charter of Charles the Bald person, king de France, in favor of the Abbaye of Saint-Hilaire. Limoux belongs then to the archbishop of Narbonne. Then, at the 10th century, the city depends on the Count of Razès which exerts the regalities there. It becomes even the chief town of the Viscount of Razès. It thrives quickly thanks to the trade of cloths and the leather and especially thanks to the protection of the Viscounts of Carcassonne.

Feudal time and catharism

But, Limoux and its surroundings are located then in full heart of the Catharisme and it place is taken without any resistance to the 13th century by Simon IV of Montfort at the time of the Croisade against the Albigensians. The fortifications are consequently destroyed. The city is given in stronghold to its lieutenant Lambert of Turry which becomes thus Lambert of Limoux. The city is not faithful for him and in 1221, it is let take by the count de Foix Raimond-Roger. The fortifications are positioned back and the cathares take again the quiet become again places. In 1225, the village of Pieusse near accommodates a council cathare of which the goal is to reorganize the community cathare of Razès. Benoît of Terms becomes their spiritual leader. In 1226 begins the " war of Limoux" who marks the resistance of the city supported by Raymond Trencavel and Roger-Bernard de Foix vis-a-vis the troops of Louis VIII. Then, the seigniory is acquired by the king of France and Limoux is annexed by the crown of France between 1296 and 1376.

Until the 14th century, the Catharisme is always present in Limoux and accounts for approximately 15% of the popualtion. In 1249, several hundreds of inhabitants are hung condemned for Hérésie.

Of XIVe at the XVIIIe century

At the 14th century, the city becomes prosperous thanks to the municipal institutions which preaches the " profit and utility of the thing publique" and thanks to industry clothier. The Right Bank of the Aude is a district of tanners of skin called “Blanquerie”.

However, in 1348, the Black Death come from Italy prevails in Limoux. In 1355, the Prince de Galles says Prince Noir plunders the city. He asserted France in heritage. Limoux is the chief town of a Viguerie since 1319 and of the fortifications are consequently installation.

The 16th century, the catholics and the calvinists oppose, involving 30 years of civil war which destroy industry again. The city is besieged and devastated by the catholics of Jean de Lévis in 1562. At the 17th century, Limoux is again touched by the Plague. Louis XIII establishes in Limoux in 1642, a Seneshal and a Présidial head office. At the 18th century, industry becomes again flourishing thanks to the evolution of the municipal institutions.

At the 17th century, Limoux is again touched by the plague and makes more than 3.000 victims. In 1642, thanks to the fidelity of its inhabitants, Louis XIII a Seneshal and a Présidial head office. The city enjoys then an institution, primary source of its ease.

At the 18th century, the municipal institutions evolve/move to be used as a basis for the municipal system with the Edict of 1771. Industry becomes again flourishing and the trade with the Spain develops. During the French revolution, no scene violent comes to disturb the establishment of the new laws which carry out Limoux towards more an high degree of prosperity.

XIXe century with today

March 3rd, 1840, the warehouse of powders and ammunition explode and makes jump the door of the Trinity. April 23rd, 1848, the vote for all is founded. In 1854, the Cholera ten-per-cent tax the population of Limoux and causes the death of one hundred fifty and one people. November 11th, 1860, the company of the sappers firemen of Limoux is created. In 1891, a historical rising causes the death of seven people and many casualties. The catastrophic level of water reaches 7 meters 20 in Limoux.

In 1907, the wine growers limouxins take part in the Révolte of the vine growers to Carcassonne then with Montpellier. August 19th, 1944, the city is released from the German troops of occupation which occupied the city since November 28th, 1942. February 26th, 1960, the General de Gaulle, Head of the State, comes in Limoux to make acclaim its Algerian policy.

Administration

Limoux is a Sous-préfecture of the Aude. She has a gendarmerie. Limoux belongs to the Communauté of communes of Limouxin and Saint-Hilairois.

Political tendencies

Politically, Limoux is a town of left, the voters having voted mainly on the left for the municipal elections since 1971. To note that the mayor of the commune since 1989, Jean-Paul Dupre, is of left (PS). It succeeded Robert Badoc itself of left.

With the presidential election of 2002, the first turn saw arriving at the head Lionel Jospin with 25,41%, followed Jean-Marie Le Pen with 19,12%, then of Jacques Chirac with 15,16% and finally Jean-Pierre Chevènement with 5,23%, no other candidate not exceeding the threshold of the 5%. With the second turn, the voters voted to 80,36% for Jacques Chirac against 19,64% for Jean-Marie Le Pen with a rate of abstention from 19,14%, result rather close to the national tendencies (respectively 82,21% and 17,79%; abstention 20,29%) with however two additional points for Jean-Marie Le Pen.

With the referendum on the constitutional treaty for Europe of May 29th, 2005, the limouxins largely voted against the European Constitution, with 63,27% of Not against 36,73% of Yes with a rate of abstention from 30,01% (whole France: Not to 54,67%; Yes to 45,33%). These figures are rather in conformity with the departmental tendency of the Aude (Not to 64,62%; Yes to 35,38%) showing the character little privileged of the inhabitants who are rural, electorate having chosen the positive vote being, according to the political analysts, the fact of a economically more privileged population and more an high level of education that the average of the French.

With the presidential election of 2007, the first turn saw dissociating at the head Ségolène Royal with 34,13%, followed by Nicolas Sarkozy with 26,61%, Francois Bayrou with 13,37%, Jean-Marie Le Pen with 11,19%, then Olivier Besancenot with 4,37%, and finally Marie-George Buffet with 2,15%, no other candidate not exceeding the threshold of the 2%. The second turn saw arriving at the head Ségolène Royal with 53,87% (national result: 46,94%) against 46,13% for Nicolas Sarkozy (national: 53,06%).

Mayors of Limoux

Taxations

The four taxes of 2006 were voted by the municipal council of Limoux for rates of: 12,84% for the Tax of dwelling, 33,17% for the Real estate tax built, 88,74% for the real estate tax not built, and 19,98% for the Professional tax.

This taxation is much higher than the departmental average but equivalent to the communes of equivalent population. These rates are as comparison and respectively of 9,43%,21,17%,54,93% and 14,68% for the department; 15,23%,39,82%,107,99% and 21,33% for Carcassonne prefecture of the Aude; 12,61%,33,66%,93,24% and 17,53% for Castelnaudary.

The rate of the local taxation direct is of 12,84% in 2006 what is there too higher than the rate secondary road with 9,43%.

The rate of the tax of dwelling of 12,84% in 2003 and 12,84% 2006 has not moved for several years what translates a municipal will to maintain the taxation such as it is. Contrary to Castelnaudary which succeeded in lowering these rates between 2003 and 2006, in particular with 18,48% in 2003 and 12,46% in 2006 for the tax of dwelling.

Teaching

The primary school education of Limoux consists of 7 school S nursery schools and primary educations public and a private elementary school. Secondary education, the city has a public Collège (College Joseph Delteil) and a private college (Saint-Joseph College of Cluny) as well as a Lycée general-purpose public (College Jacques Ruffié). Limoux does not have any establishment of higher education.

Health

The medical and social infrastructures are four with the ASM (Association Audoise Sociale and Medical), a center L. Cassan, two hospital (Limoux-Quillan Local hospital and hospital of day of Limoux), a private clinic (clinical of the Limes), a Medical private hospital and the Aragou polyclinic. Carcassonne remains the most important pole of health of the department. Limoux does not have any more a Maternité.

Demography

The town of Limoux counted: 9411 inhabitants with the last census of INSEE in 1999 what places it at the 904e national row. Limoux is the fourth city most populated of the Aude after Narbonne (: 46506 hab), Carcassonne (: 43950 hab) and Castelnaudary (: 11876 hab). The density of the commune is of 290 hab/km ². It is a commune little densément populated compared to Carcassonne (675 hab/km ²) or Trèbes (336 hab/km ²). But this density is largely lower than cities like Toulouse (: 3299 hab/km ²), Montpellier (: 3965 hab/km ²) or Perpignan (: 1544 hab/km ²). It is the fourth urban Aire department with 15.160 inhabitants covering 20 communes after Carcassonne (: 82 577 hab), Narbonne (: 70750 hab) and Castelnaudary (: 19079 hab).

Graph of the evolution of the population 1794-1999

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BarData= bar: 1901 text: 1901 bar: 1911 text: 1911 bar: 1921 text: 1921 bar: 1931 text: 1931 bar: 1946 text: 1946 bar: 1954 text: 1954 bar: 1962 text: 1962 bar: 1968 text: 1968 bar: 1975 text: 1975 bar: 1982 text: 1982 bar: 1990 text: 1990 bar: 1999 text: 1999

PlotData= color: width barred: 30 align: left bar: 1901 from: 0 till: 7084 bar: 1911 from: 0 till: 7010 bar: 1921 from: 0 till: 6640 bar: 1931 from: 0 till: 7797 bar: 1946 from: 0 till: 7587 bar: 1954 from: 0 till: 8334 bar: 1962 from: 0 till: 9603 bar: 1968 from: 0 till: 10824 bar: 1975 from: 0 till: 11101 bar: 1982 from: 0 till: 10206 bar: 1990 from: 0 till: 9665 bar: 1999 from: 0 till: 9411

PlotData= bar: 1901 At: 7084 fontsize: S text: 7.084 shift: (- 8,5) bar: 1911 At: 7010 fontsize: S text: 7.010 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1921 At: 6640 fontsize: S text: 6.640 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1931 At: 7797 fontsize: S text: 7.791 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1946 At: 7587 fontsize: S text: 7.587 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1954 At: 8334 fontsize: S text: 8.334 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1962 At: 9603 fontsize: S text: 9.603 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1968 At: 10824 fontsize: S text: 10.824 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1975 At: 11101 fontsize: S text: 11.101 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1982 At: 10206 fontsize: S text: 10.206 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1990 At: 9665 fontsize: S text: 9.665 shift: (- 10,5) bar: 1999 At: 9411 fontsize: S text: 9.411 shift: (- 10,5)

TextData= fontsize: S pos: (30,20) text: source INSEE

The city follows the same tendencies exactly as the area Languedoc-Roussillon. The shares of the 30-44 years and the 45-59 years are represented with 19,8% and 19,3% in 1999 (respectively: 20,9 and 19,1% for area has). The elderly are represented little with 10,5% in 1999 as in the remainder of the area (7,5%).

Economy

Limoux has an antenna of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Carcassonne-Limoux-Castelnaudary.

In 1999, the full number of credits on the commune of Toulouse east of: 4305, being distributed in the various economic sectors as follows:

Unemployment rate was of 16,9 % in 1999. A figure largely higher than the national average (8,6 %).

The principal companies of Limoux are Limoux Distribution with 32 M € of sales turnover, the vine growers of Sieur d' Arques , cooperative wine cave of Limoux with 32 M € and the Oustal Anne Merry with 10 M €.

The vineyard of Limoux

Culture

The Carnival of Limoux

Places and monuments

Few prehistoric and ancient vestiges are still visible on the commune of Limoux. Only the menhir “Pierre Droite” on the commune of the Peyrolles between Arch and Rennes-the-Baths is a proof of the prehistoric occupation in the area. A Gallo-Roman villa in a district of Limoux with Flassian made it possible to date the Roman occupation with Limoux.

Civil architecture

The city presents an architectural unit preserved rather well: One finds there beautiful private mansions XVe, old houses of which some date from the Renaissance and of the old lanes. One can also see an arc of the gate on street and the frontages and arches of the court with 57 rue de la Blanquerie, the elements of houses, staircase and interior with 2 rue Saint-Victor and a frontage on street and slope of staircase with 7 rue de la Trinité. A house of XVIIIe with wood sides street Jean-Jaurès is characteristic of the city. The hotel of Pitch-stirrer has an interior staircase, a living room with gypseries and of the wallpapers dating from the end of the 18th century.

The Aude is crossed by three bridges: the Pont-Neuf is a Pont strengthened placed on the Aude of 1327. It is a bridge with angular nozzles with six arches. The Pont-Vieux was rebuilt at the 19th century.

The town hall is a remarkable building with its frontage, its balconies out of wrought iron and its slope of staircase. In downtown area, the Place of the Republic is a covered square place where is held the turn of fécos during the Carnaval of Limoux. It dates from XVe and XVIIIe centuries. This place is very picturesque because it is covered with arcades on three sides. It has an old market and fountains of which one contains the weapons of Limoux.

That and there in the city is the remainder of the fortifications of the city: Carry Trinity, carries of Toulzane, Lapasset turn of the 14th century. Another picturesque place is Tivoli or Walk of the Plane trees which is a broad planted alley of Platane S. Enfin, the city has a memorial of the war of 1870-1871.

Museums

Some Musée S tries to preserve the art and the memory of the area. Thus, the museum founded Petiet in 1880 gathers living rooms decorated in the style with the Beautiful Time, and paintings of 1900. It is dedicated to a painter limouxine Marie-Louise Petiet. The museum of the piano is a museum unique in France and gathers a collection of Piano S of the 19th century at our days. The catharama is a theater on the cathares and the Catharisme. Lastly, the Jardin with the scented Plants of Bouichère is an alive museum, gathering forgotten plants of the time of Cathares and Antiquity, probably the only place where one can see the apple tree “Gosmaringer”, which was been used with the table as Charlemagne. It is a private garden of 2 ha with a medieval part, a rosery, exotic, with English and an orchard.

Structure crowned

Limoux has two church S. the Eglise Saint Martin's day of the 12th century quoted in a document since 1120), altered at the 14th century and the 15th century. It consists of triple Nef with 7 equal spans whose 5 first are Romance, of carved Romance capitals and of a Gothic bell-tower on old bases. It was restored at the 19th century (arrow of the bell-tower, arcs and vaults of the nave, pinnacles). It contains a statue reliquary of Saint Martin's day silver and vermeil of the 15th century. The church belongs to the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Hilaire (near), then passed after a long conflict to Dominican of Prouille. It failed to be high with the row of Cathédrale in 1317. The arrow is rebuilt in 1777 after its destruction by the lightning.

The church Notre-Dame de Marceille of the 14th century (quoted since 1214), is of Gothic type Languedocien and is the center of an old very popular pilgrimage in the area. It contains a black Vierge 11th century. It is the seat of a priory linked with the college of Narbonne in Paris.

Gastronomy limouxine

Several specialities are specific to Limoux:

the Pebradou is a cake Apéritif, with decorated twisted pepper paste.
the artichokes with the liver salted is a speciality made with Artichaut S associated with the liver of Porc, dryness and salted which was flamed and put beforehand at marinading in oil.
the duck in Limouxine is a Canard prepared in an adapted sauce of saffron and whole garlic grains.
the fricassee of Limoux is a dish containing pig been used with its trimming of haricot beans and pork rind.
the Limos is a brioche crown of the kings.
the auricle is a ganse punt of gilded color, diameter of a large pancake is cooked in an oil crackling.
the nougat of Limoux consists of Amande and Miel. It is a soft nougat.

Green areas

Limoux has three flowers as a flowered Ville by the National council of the Cities and Flowered Villages of France.

Personalities related to the commune

Limoux is the fatherland of Pierre Bellet, Bara de Limoux.
Pierre Laffon de Mazières (1922-2004), painter
Marie-Louise Petiet, painter born in Limoux

To live in Limoux

Cultural events and festivities

August 1st

Sport

The practice of the sport is important in Limoux and of many associations allow to practice several disciplines. Limoux has several structures: gymnasia, grounds of outdoor, sports halls, dojo, track of athletics, miniature golf, bowling pitches and swimming pool.

Media

The press is represented mainly by the regional famous daily newspapers Independent the , the free Midi and the Dispatch of the South and by a local newspaper, the Limouxin . In addition to the national radio stations, the city is covered by many local stations including “Hundred Percent”, “RCF Aude”, or “RTL2 Languedoc-Roussillon”.

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