La Bastide-l'Évêque explained

La Bastide-l'Évêque
Image Coat Of Arms:Blason ville fr La Bastide-l'Évêque 12.svg
Arrondissement:Villefranche-de-Rouergue
Canton:Aveyron et Tarn
Insee:12021
Postal Code:12200
Commune:Le Bas Ségala
Coordinates:44.3414°N 2.1353°W
Elevation M:470
Elevation Min M:280
Elevation Max M:713
Area Km2:44.16
Population:755
Population Date:2021
Population Footnotes:[1]

La Bastide-l'Évêque (in French pronounced as /la bastid levɛk/; Languedocien: La Bastida de l'Avesque) is a former commune in the Aveyron department in the Occitanie region of southern France.[2] On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Le Bas Ségala.[3]

Geography

La Bastide-l'Évêque is located some 5 km east of Villefranche-de-Rouergue and 20 km south by south-west of Decazeville. Access to the commune is by the D911 which comes from Villefranche-de-Rouergue passing along the south-western border of the commune and crossing the narrow neck in the south as it goes east to Rieupeyroux. Access to the village is by the D69 which branches from the D911 on the western commune border and passes through the village continuing east to rejoin the D911 on the eastern border. The D269 goes north from the village then turns west following the northern border and continuing to Villefranche-de-Rouergue. The D905A branches from the D911 in the south of the commune and goes south-east to La Salvetat-Peyralès. Apart from the village the commune has a large number of hamlets:

The commune is mostly farmland interspersed with a few forests.

The Aveyron river forms most of the northern border as it flows west to eventually join the Tarn at Meauzac. The Lézert flows north through the commune to join the Aveyron on the northern border. The Verlanson also flows north joining the Lézert south of the village. The Ruisseau de Pouzoulet rises near Les Gazanes and also flows north to join the Aveyron. The Ruisseau de Caral rises in the east of the commune and flows north to join the Aveyron.

Toponymy

La Bastide-l'Évêque appears as la Baftide l'Evesque on the 1750 Cassini Map and does not appear at all on the 1790 version although the hamlet of Cadour does.

History

Founded in 1280 by Bishop Raymond de Calmont, La Bastide l'Évêque is one of the five Bastides in western Rouergue with Najac, Sauveterre-de-Rouergue, Villeneuve d'Aveyron, and Villefranche-de-Rouergue. This was the foundation of the Diocese of Rodez on the remains of Morlhon and Faidits to counter the county bastide of Villafranca (Villefranche-de-Rouergue) to limit its population, influence, and development. The bishop granted a charter in 1280 but politically it was a failure and remained a fortified village.

In the 14th century mining was very important with 13 mills called "martinets" operating in the Lézert Valley. They were used to smelt copper and make cauldrons. This activity continued until the end of the 19th century then died for lack of profitability.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors[4]

From To Name
1792 1796 Jean-Jacques Cavanhac
1796 1800 François Rouzies
1800 1812 Jean-Jacques Cavanhac
1812 1843 Jean-Baptiste Dardenne
1843 1848 Hyacinthe Garrigues
1848 1873 Charles Dardenne
1873 1876 Julien Alet
1876 1892 Jean-François Rouzies
1892 1904 Louis Antoine Pachin
1904 1908 Jean-Baptiste Bessou
1908 1912 Célestin Garrigues
1912 1918 Henri Blanc
1918 1930 Léopold Gares
Mayors from 1930
From To Name
1930 1945 Théophile Rouzies
1945 1947 Valentin Laval
1947 1962 Firmin Alet
1962 1977 Gaston Lacassagne
1977 2008 André Darres
2008 2016 Jean Eudes le Meignen

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Episcopois or Episcopoises in French.[5]

Economy

The commune is mostly rural with many farms whose business ranges from cattle breeding but mostly sheep. Many tradesmen reside or work in the commune. Some people have chosen to settle in the commune but their occupation is in neighbouring towns like Villefranche-de-Rouergue or Rieupeyroux.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The Chateau de Réquista Picture Gallery

Religious heritage

Notable people linked to the commune

Bibliography

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Populations légales 2021. fr. Legal populations 2021. INSEE. December 2023.
  2. https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/cog/commune/COM12021-la-bastide-l-eveque INSEE commune file
  3. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/arrete/2015/11/6/INTB1525717A/jo/texte Arrêté préfectoral
  4. http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/resultcommune.php?id=25135 List of Mayors of France
  5. http://www.habitants.fr/aveyron-12 Inhabitants of Aveyron
  6. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée