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CASTRES is the third-largest industrial centre
(after Toulouse and Tarbes) in the predominantly
rural region of Midi-Pyrénées and
the largest between Toulouse and Montpellier. It
had a population of 61,760 in 1999.
Situated on the Agoût River, Castres has
been a textile centre since the 13th century.
Machine tools, wood products, especially
furniture, and pharmaceuticals are also
manufactured in Castres. In the 9th century it
was also one of the stopping places for pilgrims
on their way to St Jacques de Compostelle.
The nearby Sidobre region is famous for its
landscapes and geological curiosities including
unusual rock formations (such as the 'Trembling
Rock of the Seven Scythes' weighing 900 tonnes
and the 780 tonne 'Peyro Clabado'). The area is
also one of the biggest producers of granite in
the world. The romanesque ruins at Burlats are
also worth a visit. The Castres Tourist Office
also arranges guided visits on foot, by bus and
also a short cruise on the Agoût river from
the centre of the town to the Gourjade leisure
park on the Coche d'Eau, "Le Miredames", a wooden
boat inspired by the horse-drawn river coaches of the
XVIIth century.
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Once the site of a Roman encampment, Castres grew
around a Benedictine monastery founded in 647.
Protestantism predominated in the 16th century
but was suppressed by Louis XIII. The revocation
of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 jeopardized the
city’s economy by expelling Protestants,
but Castres prospered again under Louis
XIV.
Some of the houses along the east bank of the
River Agoût started out as homes of the
14th century tanners, dyers and weavers
('peyrats') (Right)
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The Bishop's Palace (Left) which later
became the Town Hall, was built in 1675 under the
direction of Jules-Hardoin Mansart who was also
the architect of Versailles.
The Town Hall now houses the Goya Museum with its
important collection of Spanish paintings
including works by Murillo, Velasquez, Pacheco,
Ribera and Purga along those by Goya. The
collection was amassed by Marcel Briguiboul
(1837-92) who had studied art in Barcelona and
was donated to Castres in two bequests made in
1893 and 1927.
An Arms Museum, made up of an interesting
collection of war weapons and memorabilia donated
to the museum by René Gatal (1919-99), a
member of the French Resistance in WWII, can also
be viewed in the Town Hall.
The Municipal Theatre may be seen on the left of
the picture, and the squat spire of the Saint
Benoit Cathedral behind the Town Hall is also
visible. The Bishop's Palace garden in the French
style, designed by André Le Nôtre in
the 17th century, is seen in the foreground and
in the title picture at the top of this page.
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St Benoit Cathedral (Right above and
Left)
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Local produce and fish from the Atlantic and
Mediterranean fishing grounds and local rivers
are sold each day in the central market place.
(Right and Below)
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Old houses on the eastern bank of the Agoût
River (Right)
In conclusion one really must include a Google
translation of portion of a Castres tourist
information page on the web describing some
features of Castrate (sic) :
"CASTRATE
Altitude 172 m.
Paris 700 km.Toulouse 70km; Albi 40km;
Carcassonne 60km.
In the Heart of HIGH LANGUEDOC, Stage of
COMPOSTELLE, Town of RUGBY, CASTRATE combines
the ART OF LIVING IN OCCITANIE with HIGH
TECHNOLOGY and KNOW HOW."
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A visit to Carcassonne starts on the next
page.
Please click on the 'Next' button (lower
right).
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