However, despite the seemingly never-ending prosperity, these good times were interrupted by the arrival of the French Wars of religion in the 16th century. Pilgrims would journey far and wide to marvel at its splendid Abbey and Cathedral, while the town’s rapidly growing middle class built grand mansions to display their new-found wealth. As a result of the Treaty of Bretigny, enforced from 1360, Sarlat was under English jurisdiction until 1370, when the Constable Bertrand du Guesclin rallied the towns’ citizens to resist English rule.Īfter that Sarlat would enter a golden age of peace, growth, and prosperity, as the now thriving town benefited from trade along the Dordogne route and also as a significant center of religious significance in France. However, while the town did serve as a base of operations for French soldiers, it was never once subject to a siege or forcefully taken by the English. Sadly, the advent of the Great Plague at the end of the 13th century killed over half of Sarlat’s population, this and the Hundred Years Wars between the Capetian rulers of Paris and the Anglo-Normans would bring more turbulence to the lives of the town’s citizens. With its religious importance and fame spreading, Sarlat’s continued prosperity and growth seemed assured. Then in the 14th century, Pope John XXII elevated the abbey’s Church to a Cathedral and started the process of renovating the Cathedral Saint Sacerdos to the ornate Gothic masterpiece, which we see today. Its religious importance for Christians across France ensured its freedom, in 1181 the French King, Philip Augustus, pledged his commitment to protecting the city from attack. The territory was controlled by the Vatican, which included the modern-day cities of Agen and Toulouse. The Sarlat monastic estate remained independent from French rule into the 12th century. However, the town’s remoteness, being over 35 miles from the banks of the river, escaped the Viking hoards and enjoyed a peaceful existence for many centuries. During the 9th century, Vikings from northern Scandinavia would raid French coastal towns and venture into the Dordogne river, ransacking settlements within reach. ![]() ![]() Historians believe that the impetus for the settlements’ growth was an important Benedictine Abbey, which is mentioned in monastic writings in 1081. Sarlat’s origins are shrouded with mystery, but we do know that the settlement came into existence long after the Roman conquest of Gaul and subsequent collapse of the western Roman empire in the 5th century.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |