Bastides of Aquitaine & South West France
What is a bastide in France?
The word bastide has dual usage in French. Most commonly it is the name given to a fortified town or village commonly found in the south of France and predominantly across the regions of south west France.
It is also the name given to a specific type of house found in the south of France and predominantly in the south east regions of Languedoc and Provence.
What does the word Bastide mean?
The word bastide is derived from the Provençal word "bastida," meaning "fortification,". As mentioned above the word in modern French means either a purposely built fortified town or village predominantly found in south west France or it means a fairly rare type of country house that was constructed in a square or rectangular layout. It is little known but the early bastide towns were often built without fortifications as they were founded during peaceful times.
What is a bastide house?
This type of country house is often confused with the classic mas style farmhouse found in southern France. It is however larger and more elegant and constructed in a square or rectangular layout with a tiled almost flat roof and stone walls that sometimes covered with stucco render or whitewashed.
Like traditional maisons de maitre, bastides tend to have a practical square or rectangular layout. Some bastide houses also have archways on the ground level leading to garages or verandas (reminiscent of the archways or arcades which were common in medieval bastide towns). Bastide-style properties are found in both towns and in the countryside where they were originally occupied by wealthy farmers. During the 19th and 20th century, many bastides were in fact used as summer second homes by their wealthy owners.
What is a bastide town?
Bastides were constructed throughout south west France during the Middle Ages. They were predominantly purpose built new settlements that were constructed and for colonisation purposes and to exert control over the local territory.
Bastides often feature a distinct Roman grid like layout, with a central square often surrounded by covered arcades and intersected by straight, perpendicular streets. Often there is a main street that was served by two gates. This design served both aesthetic and defensive purposes, providing easy surveillance and quick access through the streets of the town. Many Bastides today are only villages or even hamlets with very small populations of less than 500 people. They would have certainly been more heavily populated prior to the various conflicts across the region and the steady rural depopulation that has taken place since the 1800s. In some instances Bastides were constructed around an existing settlement and even less frequently they were built in a circular layout. Unfortunately only one example of a circular Basite exists and this is village of Fourcès in the Gers.
Who built the Bastides in France?
- Bastides were built by the various kings, land owners and noblemen that laid claim to the territories of South west France, including the following:
- Kings of England: Edwards I, Edward II and Edward III
- Kings of France: Louis IX, Philippe III and Philippe IV
- Counts of Toulouse: Alphonse & Raymond VII of Poitiers
- High-ranking seneschals (stewards / agents), in charge of royal & noble estates as well as advisors & military commanders. These include Eustache de Beaumarchais, Jean de Grailly & Doat Alaman.
- Bishops and other religious authorities from surrounding abbeys and monasteries
- Bastides often have the following features:
- a grid lay out
- a central square
- covered areas
- a rue charretière (road widen enough for carts to pass)
- rue traversière(road thart ran perpendicular to the rue charretière )
- Bastides of Dordogne (24)
- Monpazier
- Beaumont du Périgord
- Lalinde
- Villefranche du Périgord
- Monestier
- Domme
- Eymet
- Molières
- Puyguilhem
- Roquepine
- Saint Aulaye
- Vergt
- Villefranche du Lonchat
- Bastides of Lot et Garonne (47)
- Monflanquin
- Tournon d’Agenais
- Puymirol
- Villeréal
- Pujols
- Villeneuve sur Lot
- Aiguillon
- Miramont de Guyenne
- Castillonès
- Caudecoste
- Damazan
- Lamontjoie
- Lavardac
- Le Temple sur Lot
- Saint Pastour Vianne
- Bastides of Gers (32)
- Fourcès
- Marciac
- Montreal du Gers
- Bassoues
- Fleurance
- Barran
- Cologne
- Gimont
- Jegun
- Masseube
- Miélan
- Mirande
- Plaisance
- Saint Clar
- Seissan
- Solomiac
- Valence sur Baïse
- Bastides of Gironde (33)
- Monségur
- Créon
- Sainte Foy la Grande
- Sauveterre de Guyenne
- Libourne
- Blasimon
- Cadillac
- Pellegrue
- Bastides of Tarn (81)
- Cordes sur Ciel
- Réalmont
- Castelnau de Montmiral
- L’Isle sur Tarn
- Penne
- Gaillac
- Puycelsi
- Bastides of Pyrénées Atlantiques (64)
- Navarrenx
- La Bastide Clairance
- Bellocq
- Nay
- Gan
- Ainhoa
- Bastides of Tarn et Garonne (82)
- Lauzerte
- Auvillar
- Beaumont de Lomagne
- Montauban
- Castelsagrat
- Dunes
- Montjoi
- Bastides of Landes (40)
- Labastide d'Armagnac
- Montfort en Chalosse
- Geaune
- Saint Justin
- Cazéres sur l'Adour
- Bastides of Aveyron (12)
- Najac
- Villefranche de Rouergue
- Sauveterre de Rouergue
- Villeneuve d’Aveyron
- La Bastidel'Évêque
- Bastides of Lot (46)
- Cazals
- Rudelle
- Montcabier
- Bretenoux
- Beauregard
- Bastides of Haute Pyrénées (65)
- Lannemezan
- Rabastens de Bigorre
- Trie sur Baïse
- Tournay
- Bastides of Ariège (09)
- Mirepoix
- Tarascon sur Ariège
- Bastides of Aude (11)
- Carcassonne
- Castelnaudary
- Bastides of Charente Maritime
- Tallmont sur Gironde (on the banks of the Gironde river)
- Find an Aquitaine Bastide Property now.
- Next: Aquitaine Maisons Bearnaises
- Summary of Aquitaine Traditional Houses
What are the main features of a Bastide town or village in France?
When were the bastides built in France?
The vast majority of Bastides were built between the 13th and 15th centuries, becoming common place following the Cathar conflicts and the Treaty of Paris in 1229 and during the Hundred Years war between England and France.
When was the first bastide built in France?
The oldest bastide settlement is said to be either Mont de Marsan in the Landes or Montauban in the Tarn et Garonne. Montauban, founded in 1144 claims the title as the oldest bastide though this is often disputed by the claim of Mont de Marsan which was founded in 1133 and also considered to be a bastide .
How many bastides are there in France?
The beautiful countryside of the southwest region of France is home to numerous bastides. While the exact number is difficult to calculate as there is often overlap between bastides and other fortified settlements such as Castelnau. There is certainly well over 300 bastides towns and villages in France and the true fotal ficure could be over 700.What is the history of the bastide towns and villages in France?
The history of bastide towns and villages in France dates back to the 12th century when they were established as strategic strongholds. These settlements were built during a period of conflict and predate the famous hundreds years ware between England and France. Bastides were typically founded by nobles or monarchs who granted charters and privileges to attract settlers. The establishment of bastides led to the growth of local economies and the spread of cultural and artistic influences.Where are Bastide towns and villages located in France?
Bastide towns and villages are predominantly located in South west france in the regions of Aquitaine and Midi Pyrenees across the old provinces of Guyenne, Gascogne, Bearn and even further to the east Languedoc.
What are the most famous Bastide towns and villages of SW France?
Here is a list of the most well-known bastide towns and villages in southwest France:
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