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The birth
of a town
The railway arrived in
Capdenac in the middle of the 19th century. The town was the centre
of a five point ‘star’ – serving
the south of the Massif Central and joining the towns of Brive,
Toulouse, Cahors, Rodez et Aurillac. Being this important ‘knot’ would
influence the economic development of the town and its surrounding
region. Linking transport and gastronomy, the town very
quickly developed specialist agribusiness
based on local produce. It now has an international reputation
for fine, traditional food products.
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Capdenac-Gare
:
Capdenac is a boom town:
the population doubled in 30 years and in 1891 it became the ‘county
town’ of
the commune, taking the title away from St-Julien d'Empare. It's
incredible
growth meant that in 1922 it even took the title of ‘head
of the Canton’ away from Asprières.
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The importance
of the River Lot
The River Lot was the original
main communication route between the Massif Central and Aquitaine
which led to the
development of Capdenac Port. A canal dug through the rock improved
navigation.
But the Industrial Revolution was to introduce new links as the
railway became more important and gave birth to Capdenac-Gare.
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Capdenac-Le-Haut - Capdenac-Gare
Capdenac-Gare, the town
that sprung from the railway, grew up on a bend in the River Lot.
Its
left bank is in the department of the Aveyron under the benevolent
gaze
of Capdenac Le Haut, an ancient village perched on a rocky promontory.
This ancient ‘oppidum’ or fortified village, dates
from Roman times. Situated on the opposite bank of the river, it
is in the
Department of the Lot. Dating from Gallo-Roman times, Capdenac
Le Haut is full
of traces of the Middle Ages. With a history that dates back several
thousand years, it presents an interesting contrast to its immediate
neighbour Capdenac-Gare, which is only just over a century old.
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Ancient
Traces
The number of place-names ending in ‘ac’ (eg
Sonnac, Naussac, Foissac, Capdenac...) shows that this region was
inhabited
during the Gallo-Roman era. However the existence of the Prehistoric
Cave (at Foissac), remains of dolmens (Foissac, Naussac, Salles-
Courbatiers), a menhir (at Sonnac), and tumulus (Salles-Courbatiers)
proves that life here dates back more than 5000 years!
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An area built on ancient
celtic roads
It’s at Capdenac that was built the oldest link from the
Causse to Villeneuve St Loup. In Roman times, Figeac was but a
hamlet; Villeneuve d’Aveyron and Villefranche de Rouergue
did not exist, the Lot valley was little used. In contrast, the
chalky plateau where there was the largest population was a location
relatively well served first by an ancient network of first Celtic
and then Roman roads.
The influence of the large abbeys
The religious history of our
region is linked to the great road between Figeac and Rodez,
known in the middle ages as the Camin
Romeiu (the pilgrim's route, mentioned in 1300). Further to the
North, it connected with Limoges. This opening to the North is
the result of the influence of the important monasteries to the
North of the Lot: St Martial de Limoges (at Asprieres and Sonnac),
Figeac
(at Balaguier d’Olt, Causse et Diege..) Aurillac (at Bouillac,
Foissac, Capdenac) or Montsalvy (at Les Albres). Over
several centuries these monasteries linked the parish of the dioceses
of Cahors and Rodez and attracted the interest of the noble lords
in the same way that, in the Middle Ages, the river and the strategic
position of Capdenac Le Haut had done.
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In the lands of the Counts of Tolouse
The region’s political history
is linked to the fortress of Capdenac Le Haut which saw battles
from all the wars that shook the
Midi: the wars of Albi, the Hundred Years War, the religious wars.
The passageway created by the River Lot was very important: attracting
the interest of the Counts of Tolouse. This land formed part of their
possessions, situated at the extreme north-western point.
Towers and ruins, symbols of a
powerful feudal presence, still dominate our valleys. Along with
Peyrusse le Roc, Capdenac le Haut and Balaguier
d’Olt formed a natural triangle of defence stretching from
the Causse to Villeneuve St Loup.
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