A Knight’s Tale (144: The Bastides)

Beaumont is one of the bastide towns to which my friends Maggie and Mike introduced me. Maggie is in the foreground of the third picture; Mike in the distance behind her.

Built during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries ‘bastides were developed in number under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1229), which permitted Raymond VII of Toulouse to build new towns in his shattered domains, though not to fortify them. When the Capetian Alphonse of Poitiers inherited, under a marriage stipulated by the treaty, this “bastide founder of unparalleled energy”[5] consolidated his regional control in part through the founding of bastides. Landowners supported development of the bastides in order to generate revenues from taxes on trade rather than tithes(taxes on production). Farmers who elected to move their families to bastides were no longer vassals of the local lord — they became free men; thus the development of bastides contributed to the waning of feudalism. The new inhabitants were encouraged to cultivate the land around the bastide, which in turn attracted trade in the form of merchants and markets. The lord taxed dwellings in the bastides and all trade in the market. The legal footing on which the bastides were set was that of paréage with the local ruling power, based on a formal written contractual agreement between the landholder and a count of Toulouse, a king of France, or a king of England. The landholder might be a cartel of local lords or the abbot of a local monastery.’ (Wikipedia)

During the medieval Hundred Years War between England and France, the French rapidly fortified those towns that had not succumbed in the early destruction. Ownership tended to fluctuate between the two warring Houses, and when it was their turn, the English made good use of the fortifications that had been so effective against them. In fact, various websites inform us that Beaumont-du-Perigord was founded by England’s King Edward I in 1272.

The //about-france.com website claims that ‘the “Bastide” towns of southwest France are a growing tourist attraction, and comprise one of the largest collections of well-preserved mediaeval townscapes to be found anywhere in Europe’, Beaumont-du-Perigord, being a fine example.

Unfortunately I cannot be certain which was the next such town I visited with Maggie and Mike in September 2003, but I think it was Monpazier, founded by the English to keep out the French in 1285. It was to change hands between these two nations several times in the following few decades.

The main feature of a bastide is the central open place or square surrounded by colonnaded arches used for markets, and for political and social gatherings, now housing shops, such as wine merchants and toy suppliers. I enjoyed seeing baskets of diabolos, such as those brought back from holiday by my maternal grandparents.

Colourful market stalls fill the square which is

surrounded by grids of streets linked by narrow alleys or ruelles.

Weathered walls, iron gates, and tended gardens invite attention.

Maggie and Mike 9.03

When we passed a church which had recently held a wedding, my friends thought it would be a good wheeze to pretend it was theirs.

45 comments

  1. So interesting, Derrick, and beautiful photos. I really like the archway and shadows in the header photo, and the light in the next photo in the gallery. I the photos of the ruelle, too.
    Coincidentally, this is the second post today where French buildings and the Hundred Years War turned up. 🙂

  2. HI Derrick, these are lovely pictures. I have never been to France, but hope to some day. I’ve not heard that expression “a good wheeze” before. It’s rather fun.

      1. You’re welcome, Derrick. It would be fascinating, but very time-consuming to research. I know next to nothing about that particular branch on the family tree.

  3. “If walls (or streets) could talk!”
    What amazing photos of such beauty, charm, architecture and history!
    The market goods are beautiful!
    That last photo is very sweet!
    (((HUGS))) 🙂

  4. Being a lover of arches, this is a place I would enjoy. It looks like a good place for a medieval festival and knights. 🙂

  5. Loved the visit but I had to look up ‘bastide’ ‘cos we don’t have such things in Oz. They say there are some ‘bastides’ in England and Wales?

  6. I’m homesick for France. Unfortunately, when I lived in Pau I didn’t have any wheels, so missed the delights portrayed in your post. I love French markets, though actually that extends to all markets!

  7. What a gorgeous town. I would love to wander down those narrow streets. Thanks for the fascinating post, Derrick.

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