Castelsarrasin

It is located place of the Raison. Registered on the additional list of the general inventory of the Historic buildings.
Mentioned as of 961, the church Saint-Sauveur was rebuilt in 1254, “in a sumptuous way”. It ensured until 1626 of the conventual functions (priory of the abbey of Moissac) and remained until the most important Revolution of 1789 of the churches of the Bas-Montauban diocese. It is entirely built out of bricks, type even of architecture of the first Gothic with nave and transept arched of warheads and collateral covers of a Romance broken cradle. It shows the following characteristics:
* bell-tower-turn of octagonal form, on 2 floors separated by an external cord. 32 coupled windows and with semicircular arch;
* movable from XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries classified Historic building. It is composed of splendid woodworks coming for the majority from the old abbey from Belleperche acquired in January 1799 and furnace bridges and marble angels;
* stained glasses signed and gone back to Joseph Villiet, Louis Gesta and Henri Feur;
* window presenting various objects of worship behind the high altar. The church shelters the relics of the owner of the city, Saint Alpinien, companion of Martial saint, evangelists of the Gallic province called " Aquitaine" (XIIIrd century);

The first title attesting the existence of this dated June 7, 1210 vault. From the time immemorial the fame of Notre Dame of Alem was large. The vault a long time diverted towards it Jacobites passing by Toulouse and Moissac. Destroyed with three recoveries (One hundred Year old War, Wars of religion and Revolution of 1789), it is still today upright.
It owes two of its resurrections with two “miracles”:
* the wish of Sancerre at the time of the One hundred Year old War. The marshal Louis de Sancerre, taken refuge in the ruins of the vault, beseeches the Virgin and promises to rebuild this one if it gains the victory.
* the wish of Galatoire of Spain during the Revolution. Imprisoned in the convent of the Visitation, this noble, relative of emigrants promises to rebuild the vault, if he escapes the guillotine.

Castelsarrasin is a small height (a plate) near to the river: The Garonne. This was with thetime ideal conditions for the construction of a strong castle. This castle defended certainly the small agglomeration built around St-Sauveur.Les houses were protected by ramparts and you could enter the city only by 4 doors, surmounted by a tower: the door moissagaise, the door garonnaise, carries Toulouse and carries of Agre (name of the forest which was in direction of Labastide of the Temple)… The city played a big role in the Albigensian crisis. At the XIIIrd century, the city was taken by Simon de Monfort who wanted to conquer all the territories and castles of the Counts de Toulouse, and it had to also suffer from the one hundred year old war. It was the refuge of the Parliament of Toulouse during the wars of religion. There remain nothing any more but some traces of this moyenâgeux last rich person; the wars, the revolution and the modernism of the city having was right of the fortified town that was Castelsarrasin.
While walking you in the centre town of the city, you can find the site of the castle castelsarrasinois (on the place, called place of the castle), Everywhere where you will walk the old stones will speak to you, and in the middle of the city, the church St-Saveur, several times renovated during the centuries, will offer its wonders to you the sacred art which comes mainly from the old abbey of Belleperche (movable of XVIIth and XVIIIth). This church also shelters since XIIIth century, the relics of Saint-Alpinien, owner and guard of Castelsarrasin. They attracted many pilgrims formerly. Since the Middle Ages, which marks the period of the development of Christianity, 3 churches still present: Notre Dame of Alem, St-Jean and Saint- Saver testify to this time. Thanks to the splendid stained glasses which represent the scenes of the life of Christ, people which could not read, could know the holy word. At the beginning of the XVII century, various congregations of monk are installed on the city: - the Capuchins build a house out of the walls of the city, close to the door of Agre (of 1602 à1609); - Dominican install in the buildings of the old hospital St Louis in 1603; - the Ursulines make build in 1642, in Castelsarrasin a large house (this is the current Sub-prefecture). They inform free the young girls of the city. The style of the houses change: gradually, cob and wood are replaced by red brick. The roofs cover tiles, reds, they too. The frontages of large residences give color to the city; the turn of the doors and the windows are sometimes out of stone. The XIX th century brought its industrial impulse and Castelsarrasin knows an intense agricultural activity nowadays. In order to better sell the cereal products, from the co-operatives will be born. The farmers bring their production in large collective silos These companies go then, by ways of railroads, to convey and sell the products everywhere in France. The machine canning facility allows to distribute, everywhere in France carrot, celery, gherkin…

The water always had a big role with Castelsarrasin. The foot of the Castle, the Garonne will allow the development of the trade. Gabarres, charged with wine and cereals produced by the local agriculture, are effective means of transport. Since located between the Garonne and the Tarn, at a few kilometers of the confluence of these two courses of the water, the irrigation of the cultures is facilitated. It is enough to pump the water and to convey until in the many orchards or fields. But many risings, due to violent ones storms who suddenly explode on the area and the agitation of the river do not allow any more the river transport on the Garonne, under good conditions.
At the XIXth century, the side channel in the Garonne is bored. In fact water of the Garonne itself feeds this channel. But how did transport occur, on this waterway? At the beginning, on, each side tow paths of the channel, the men the boats with the force drew from the arms, then the attachments d' asses, from oxen and finally the horses came to replace them. With the invention of the steam engines, electric then diesels with the invention of the paddle wheel then with propeller, the boat becomes autonomous then a simple system of propulsion enables him to move. As a stage with the problems of level of the grounds by which the channel passes, you had the idea to create locks, which made it possible to circulate as well the upstream downstream that of the downstream towards the upstream. Today, the efforts made by the city to maintain the shaded banks, are favourable with the walk. The installation of four artificial lakes allows the relaxation and fishing Castelsarrasin.