Paris1972-Versailles2003

And now I take to some off the beaten paths of off the beaten path town of Lavaur. It is in the Cocagne country of pastels and Cathar tradition and very sentimental to me as mentioned before do not want to repeat.

We have come here many times and did walks all over for reminicents times, but hardly not to many pictures. I guess when you have it no need to show it. This time came with my 3 young men and our dog Rex and walk again all over but did took pictures.

Therefore, let me tell you a bit on the Esplanade de Plô in Lavaur, the Tarn dept 81 of Occitanie in my belle France.

Le Plô is the site of the Lavaur castle which no longer exists. The Plô site, bought from the king by the consuls in 1622, was laid out as a public promenade and then as an esplanade from the 17C. The Esplanade du Plô, will immerse you in the history of the Cathars as you can imagine the bonshommes trying to repel the troops of Simon de Montfort besieging the city to capture and kill these heretics. This epic past, this site has now become a place of rest, calm and relaxation where you can soak up the charitable soul of Dame Guiraude. It is the ideal place for an improvised nap or a family picnic!   Petanque or here Boules lovers, a bowling alley or Boulodrom awaits you!

It , also ,has wonderful views over the river banks and valley of the Agout, the main river here. It is worth the detour to see the natural beauty of this area and think of the history above that took place here!  A bit on the river if I may.

The Agout river passes in the two departments of Hérault and Tarn, in the Occitanie region. It is an important left tributary of the Tarn river, therefore a sub-tributary of the Garonne river. The length of the Agout river is 194 km . In the dept 81 of the Tarn it passes by the towns of Brassac, Castelnau-de-Brassac, Castres, Coufouleux, Giroussens, Burlats, Lavaur, Rabastens, Saint-Sulpice-la-Pointe, and Vielmur-sur-Agout. For info much of these have written in my blog.

Its flow was observed over a period of 56 years (1946-2001), at Lavaur. The river catchment area at this location is 2,300 km2 (or approximately 66.3% of its total which is 3,497 km2.). After a passage in the Tarn river, then the Garonne river , the waters of Agout river will finish their race in the Atlantic Ocean. The official vigicrues or river levels in France on the passing by Lavaur in French is here: Official Vigicrues river water levels on the Agout at Lavaur in French

The town of Lavaur in French has plenty on the things to see and pdf files on the heritage and history not to mention on doors which seems to be a popular post in several blogs in wordpress….::) City of Lavaur on heritage in French

And my info translated came from the tourist office of the Tarn dept 81 on the Plô here in French: Tourist office of the Tarn dept 81 on the Le Plo of Lavaur

And voilà the quant old Lavaur and its off the beaten paths beauties, hope you enjoy it and do pass by on your rounds in cathar country! Love Lavaur!

And remember, happy travels  good health, and many cheers to all!!!

We make a must stop when visiting our sentimental Lavaur, and love it. The Church of Saint François is old and beautifully done right in city center, in fact you entered from the sidewalk into the church! It is at Grande Rue which is the main merchant street in town!

I wrote briefly on it long ago so let me bring you up to date, and my blog! Here is my take on the St François Church of Lavaur. Also known as the Cordeliers (12C-15C) with its large Puget organ 1866. Former convent of the Cordeliers (Franciscans), founded by Sicard, baron of Ambres. After the abolition of the convent, the church became parish from 1802 to 1963.

The Saint-François Church inspires respect. Majestic, it consists mainly of bricks and remains today the largest Franciscan church in the Southwest of France!. The current church brings together a polygonal choir from the 13C, an apse from the 14C, a nave from the 15C and a Stations of the Cross designed around 1880. Its interior decor from the 19C was mainly created by artists and craftsmen from Toulouse: paintings of vaults , stained glass windows and terracotta tiles , and large organ c 1866

The Church of Saint François is located in Lavaur, dept 81 of the Tarn in the region of Occitanie. The church is oriented north-south. The choir of the Saint-François Church and two spans of the nave dates from the 13C, the apse from the 14C, the nave from the 15C. The church was consecrated in 1350, then again in 1512 The church was unoccupied during the French revolution. It served as a fodder store between 1790 and 1800.

The Church of Saint François was returned to worship in 1801. A gallery was built in 1848 above the entrance. The interior decor of the church dates from the 19C.  The church was built in bricks of a single nave, adopting a fairly usual plan in the Gothic churches of the Languedoc.

In the four spans to the south, the side chapels are integrated between the buttresses of the nave. In the 15C, the brotherhoods multiply in the Saint-François Church which have their chapels. The first chapel, to the right of the entrance, is that of the Saint-Côme-Saint-Damien brotherhood founded in 1501. The fourth chapel, on the same side, has Saint Eutrope whose cult was introduced in 1450. The organ was built by Toulouse organ builder Théodore Puget, between 1863 and the end of 1865. It was inaugurated in January 1866.

The webpages are limited on this Church for unknown reasons to me making it even more interesting to see it Below is the Catholic parish of Albi of which the town of Lavaur depend on for religious reasons.

Catholic Diocese of Albi on the Church St Francois of Lavaur

You will enjoy the monuments of Lavaur, small town but packed with goodies see my next posts on it. And do walk, we did the whole town lol!  And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!