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Medieval alleys of Cordes-sur-Ciel

Cordes-sur-Ciel is a beautiful town in the Tarn department of Southern France that won 'most preferred village' of 2014. Its medieval alleys hold some...
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Cordes-sur-Ciel is a beautiful town in the Tarn department of Southern France that won 'most preferred village' of 2014. Its medieval alleys hold some secrets from the past though. The fortified town was built in 1222 by Raimon VII, the Count of Toulouse, who, though not a Cathar, tolerated what other Catholics considered heresy.

In 1222, Cordes received its charter from the Count of Toulouse to become a "bastide" or a fortified town. It is generally considered to be the first of the bastides of Southwest France. Bastides were "new towns," originally conceived to resettle and shelter people who had been displaced by the Albigensian Crusade. They were also intended to colonize southwest France and encourage agricultural and related market development.

Cordes was built between 1222 and 1229 to protect the scattered population of the area from conflict. It was intended to replace the village of Saint-Marcel, which was burnt down by the troops of Simon de Montfort in 1215, during the Northern baron's crusade against the Albigensians.
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