AIRE DE PIQUE-NIQUE

The picnic is ready and you're looking for a nice place to put the blanket...

The first traces of land occupation in our commune date back to the Neolithic period. Gallo-Roman remains have also been discovered.

Originally, the village was a fortified enclosure crossed by 2 drawbridges. One of the gates, known as the "Porte de la brèche", was destroyed by Simon de Montfort during the Albigensian Crusade in 1226. Only the "Porte de Sers" gate remains.

During the Wars of Religion, part of the castle was burnt down.

On 22 August 1944, the painful episode of the passage of the German troops in debacle took place.

Of the three windmills in the commune, the oldest in the Lauragais (1571) in the centre stopped turning in 1953 and its wings were removed 2 years later.

Since 1956, only part of the base of the 6 chapels and the 1551 bell-tower wall, built from the debris of the burnt castle, have survived of the former 16th century church with its 4 bays and a ribbed heart.



To discover

> A feudal castle, originally modified around 1560 in Renaissance style.

> St Blaise church with its 32-metre high Gothic bell tower dating from 1551.

> Former 18th century town house, now the Town Hall.

> Sers Gate and moat.

> Stone engraved in memory of Cécile MONTAGNÉ who died in the odour of sanctity.

> Three windmills (the oldest in the region: one dates from 1571).

> 6 hectare leisure lake.