Mont de Marsan

Mont de Marsan, whose territory is 36.9 km ² , is located on the southern border of the Landski forests , in the immediate vicinity of the Gascon agrarian region of Chaloss . Called the “city of three rivers”, Mont de Marsan is located at the confluence of two rivers, the Midu and the Douz, which in the very center of the city form the third river, Midouz , the main tributary of the Adour .

Several versions of the origin of the name Mont de Marsan are still being discussed.

According to one hypothesis, the name of the city recalls a temple in honor of the god Mars , built by the Romans on top of the hill that dominates the city: Mons Martiani . This version has not found any archaeological evidence.

According to the second version, the word Marsan arose from the words ar (standing water or a swamp) or aar (river), and an (locality, territory). Mont can mean the hills south of the city. Thus, according to this hypothesis, the name Mont de Marsan can mean "a mountain in the land of swamps or rivers" ^[1] .

According to the third version, the name of the city came from the patronym Marsan . The surname Marsan has roots in the parish of Marsan , located in the modern department of Jer , and in turn comes from the Latin name Martianus . Thus, according to this version, the name of the city comes from the name Martianus ^[2] .

Prehistoric Period

During archaeological excavations it was found that the territory between the two rivers was inhabited from time to time starting from the Paleolithic period. Without a doubt, the place near the confluence of the rivers had many advantages for settlement ^[3] .

A series of archaeological excavations, begun in the 1980s and then continued in the 2000s, made it possible to establish many traces of human habitation dating from the Bronze Age . The numerous remains of richly decorated ceramic products testified to the importance of the excavation site, but did not allow to establish its role (dwelling, farm, religious building, etc.).

The number of finds dating from the Roman conquest rises sharply. Excavations were carried out in the garden near the donjon Lacataye , during which many fragments of amphorae dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries were discovered. Excavations under the modern building of the General Council of the department confirmed the population of this area, since traces of dwellings were discovered.

12th Century City Formation

Mont de Marsan was founded by the Viscount of Marsan by Pierre I ^[4] . Until that time, the Viscount residence was a little east, in the settlement of Roquefort , at the confluence of two small rivers, Duluz and Estampon. Interested in the confluence of the Midus River, Pierre decided between 1136 and 1140 to establish a new settlement on the lands belonging to the parishes of Saint-Pierre-du-Monts and Saint-Gene-des-Vallées.

First of all, he built a fortress in a new place, which later became known as the Old Castle (it was located on the site of a modern city ​​theater ). This fortress allowed the Viscount to control the confluence of rivers and levy a duty on goods transported along the Miduz River, thus ensuring a constant flow of funds to his treasury. The new capital of Viscountry became an essential link in the chain of trade: grains and resins were lowered from Mont de Marsan to Bayonne , and salt and metals were raised along the river. Wines and Armagnac began to be transported only in the XIV century.

Then the Viscount Pierre I invited the residents of the parishes Saint-Pierre and Saint-Genet to settle around the new castle. Mostly these were serfs , to whom he promised freedom in exchange for their participation in the defense of the castle ^[3] . Soon the parish of Saint-Pierre-du-Monts was empty, as well as its surroundings.

It is important to note that at that time these lands were religiously and secularly dependent on the powerful abbey of Saint-Sever . To calm the abbot's outrage, the Viscount Pierre I gave the abbey the right to build a church in the new city and open the Benedictine Priory there . Thus, the first city church was built, located on the site of the modern church de la Madeleine .

Mont de Marsan expanded very quickly, especially in the north-east direction. In the XIII century, the city stone wall of shell rock surrounded already a very large settlement. The construction of the pier and the construction of a bridge over the Mida at the foot of the castle led to the base of the village on the opposite bank ^[3] . From that moment, the townspeople began to distinguish between the “old city” by the type of village at the castle, between Duz and Midu, and the “city by the fountain”, located to the south, on the side of the modern city hall.

The port of Mont de Marsana was located at some distance, on the left bank of the Midus River. It developed very quickly due to the strategic position of the city between Bayonne and Toulouse , between Po and Bordeaux . Thus, Mont de Marsan was a conditional "key" to all these cities. Around the constructed port, a new city block was formed. Around 1260, it was in this quarter that the Franciscan monastery was founded, which in France was traditionally called the "cordeliers". This quarter was also surrounded by a wall in which there were gates in the directions to Er-sur-l'Adour , Saint-North and Tartas . The Clarissinos Monastery, founded near Beiry in 1256, was transferred to Mont de Marsan in 1275, and was located near the Old Castle .

It took a little over a hundred years for the new city to emerge and strengthen as a defensive, port and religious center of the region.

The Middle Ages and the Hundred Years War

Alienora of Aquitaine brought the duchy of Aquitaine in 1152 as a dowry to her husband Henry Plantagenet, who in 1154 became the King of England Henry II . Thus, Mont de Marsan came under English rule, where he remained for approximately 300 years, right up to 1441. During the armed conflicts of the Hundred Years War , when bastides were built in the vicinity, the population took refuge outside the city ​​walls . The city turned into a fortress. In the XIII century, the city passed into the possession of the house of Foix Bearn . In 1344, Viscount de Marsan Gaston Phoebus rebuilt Nolibo Castle and strengthened the defensive city fortifications ^[5] . After that, over a long period, from the 14th to the 17th century, there were no significant changes in the city ^[3] .

During the years of English domination, an unusual tradition appeared in the city, when every new mayor, before taking office, took the oath in the church of Saint-Pierre-du-Monts . This tradition has existed for five centuries, and ceased only after the French Revolution ^[5] .

As an important commercial and transshipment center of Guyenne , locally produced goods (especially cereals and Armagnac ) were sent from Mont-de-Marsan to the port of Bayonne during the Middle Ages and in the era of pre-revolutionary France . Significant development of river transport strengthened the welfare of riverine workers, who organized themselves in professional corporations. The goods were transported on flat-bottomed dies and barges , which had the local name "galup". Almost constantly, the city was in competition with other neighboring trading cities, especially with Dax .

Religious Wars and the French Revolution

In 1517, Catherine de Foix , Queen of Navarre , died in Mont de Marsan. In the same year, 1517, the lands of Marsan passed into the possession of the Albre family ^[3] , who then ruled Navarra . Once in the possession of Jeanne d'Albre (who adopted Calvinism in 1560), and then her son Henry III of Navarre , who later became King Henry IV , the city became a " Protestant fortress." Since 1560, Mont de Marsan was at the very center of the armed confrontation between Catholics and Huguenots in Gascony ^[3] . Catholics under the command of Blaise de Montluc captured the city on May 16, 1569 , and only in 1577 the Huguenots were able to recapture it under the command of the Norman aristocrat Gabriel de Montgomery . In the course of continuous hostilities, the suburbs of the city, as well as the Clarissinos Monastery, located since the 13th century near the gate to Roquefort , were destroyed ^[6] . Henry III of Navarre triumphantly entered the city on November 22, 1583 . The beginning of the period of economic prosperity for the city is associated with it ^[5] . In 1586, at his direction, the bastion fortifications , the so-called “Tenailles”, were erected to defend the city from the east. Having ascended the French throne, he annexed the city to the possessions of the crown of France in 1607 ^[3] .

After the cessation of religious wars, the defensive fortifications of the city became useless. The Chief Minister of Richelieu in 1622 ordered to demolish part of the Old Castle and Nolibo Castle ^[5] . Currently, only a few fragments of the old walls and the old observation post - “ donjon Lacataye ” have been preserved from these fortifications. The city was again at the center of unrest during the Fronde in 1653 ^[5] .

During the XVII century, on the site of the destroyed fortifications, monasteries of clarissins , ursulins , and barnavites were founded. The city was able to retain the fame of a commercial center for the sale of wines, Armagnac and grains; as early as 1654, Mont de Marsan had the status of the “granary of the Lower Hyeny” ^[3] . In 1777, it was decided to demolish the city gate, and in 1809 the last remnants of the Old Castle were destroyed. As a result, improved transport links in the city.

Department Prefecture Education

On January 12, 1790, in the revolutionary era in France, like the other departments, the department of Land was formed. According to the decision of the Constituent Assembly, Mont-de-Marsan became the administrative center ( prefecture ) of this department. It should be noted that according to this decree, Mont-de-Marsan was supposed to fulfill the functions of the prefecture alternately with Dax, but in practice such a change never happened.

During the French Revolution, the city ​​bore the name Mont-Marat ^[7] . Having become the capital of the department, the city was to quickly acquire new buildings for the administration. Therefore, during the XIX century, the city completely changed, freeing itself from the signs of a fortified city . Large construction sites appeared along the modern rue Victor Hugo street; at the same time they built a palace of justice and a prison, erected a new building for the prefecture. After the collapse of the old church of the XIV century, in 1830 built the church de la Madeleine in the style of classicism . Also, bridges were built in the city and the construction of boulevards began ^[3] . During this period, a road network and railway lines began to develop in Mont de Marsan.

In 1866, the territory of Mont de Marsan significantly expanded due to the inclusion of three independent communes. In the same year, the lyceum of Victor Duruy was inaugurated.

After 1860, when the Landing Forest Planting Project was launched, promoted by Emperor Napoleon III , large quantities of timber began to pass through the city port. Wealthy merchants appeared in the city, who built several private mansions on the modern place Pancaut . However, at the beginning of the 20th century, port activity began to decline and already in 1903 completely ceased.

In the period from 1932 to 1944, the first buildings of the Lyne hospital, a number of schools were built in Mont de Marsan, as well as the Plumason arenas (built in 1889) were expanded ^[3] .

During the Second World War, the city ​​was occupied by German troops starting on June 28, 1940 . The Germans requisitioned the airfield, creating on its basis the most important Luftwaffe airbase in southwestern France. March 27, 1944 military facilities were bombed, which involved about 50 Allied aircraft. During this air raid, 12 civilians died and 15 were injured ^[8] . The city was liberated on August 21, 1944 ^[3] .

Modernity

In 1946, the Test Center of the Military Aviation of France (Air Base 118) was opened on the territory of the commune, which gave a new impetus to the development of the city ^[3] . The population began to grow rapidly, it became possible to open shopping centers.

The urbanization policy pursued by the city authorities, beginning in 1962, consisted in a constant shift of the borders of pine forests surrounding the city and the construction of new residential quarters on the liberated lands ^[3] .

In the 2000s, the city began to decline. The population in the city center was steadily declining and it became difficult for commercial enterprises to maintain profitability, which is noticeable in the example of the shopping center of the famous French chain Nouvelles Galeries , the former emblem of the city center and finally closed in 2008 after a three-time change of ownership.

The new urban development policy, adopted in 2009, aims to break the negative trend. This program, called Cœur de ville , aims to breathe new life into the historical center of the city, updating the facades and stimulating the development of housing and trade, while the northern district of the city ( Peyrouat ) is planned to be transformed into a new ecological region (the destruction of dilapidated buildings, laying green roads ”and the implementation of the concept of“ inhabited tree ”, with the introduction of geothermal heating ^[9] ). The implementation of the program is scheduled until 2018.

A new impetus to private and public development projects was given by the passage through the city of the A65 motorway , thanks to which Mont de Marsan now separates an hour's drive from the three largest cities in the region - Bordeaux, Pau and Bayonne. Plans have also been announced for the construction of the LGV rail line for high-speed trains.

Mont de Marsan is the leading employment center in the Department of Landa . The employment of the population of nearby communes is almost entirely dependent on the prefecture of the department.

In general, three sectors of the economy prevail in Mont de Marsan:

• Food industry : everything related to poultry (ducks, chickens, foie gras ) and corn ; Large enterprises operate in the city in this sector ( Delpeyrat , Maïsadour ).
• Timber industry.
• Test center for military aviation : the air base 118 (BA 118) is located on the territory of the commune, one of the main air bases of constant combat readiness of the French Air Force.

The presence of airbase 118 has a primary influence on the demographic and economic development of the agglomeration, although it has become an obstacle to the expansion of the city to the north. With over 3,800 employees, the airbase is the largest employer in the area. Meanwhile, tourism in the 1990-2000s did not have significant development.

Currently, the city is trying to increase its attractiveness in the eyes of potential new residents. The opening of a new correctional center in 2009 made it possible to create 1,000 jobs, and the military reform project allowed us to expand the state of 118 airbase by 380 new jobs.

Thanks to the construction of the new station, as part of a major project for the construction of the LGV Bordeaux – Spain high-speed train line, Mont de Marsan is expected to be 30 minutes from Bordeaux, Pau and Bayonne, 1 hour from Toulouse and Spanish Saint Sebastian, and 2.5 hours from Paris .

Geographically, Mont de Marsan is located in the center of the “big south-west of France”, so all the major cities of the region are less than two hours away by car (a trip to Toulouse takes about 2.5 hours).

The A65 motorway connects Mont de Marsan with Bordeaux (130 km) in the north and Pau (80 km) in the south. Highway N124 (D824) connects the city with Dax (50 km) and Bayonne (100 km). Highway D933, and then A62, allows you to get to Agen (130 km) and then, via N124, to Toulouse (180 km).

Railway traffic in this area is poorly developed. Previously, the city was a hub of the secondary railway network , but the lines passing through it were closed one after another throughout the 20th century. Now the station of Mont de Marsan is the final point only on the line Morsan ( fr. Morcenx ) - Mont de Marsan, through which the city is connected by the routes of the regional TER Aquitaine network with Bordeaux, Dax and Bayonne.

Tma Bus Network

The bus network serving Mont de Marsan is called “Tma” (pronounced TeMA). This network is operated by Veolia Transport and it consists of 7 routes (indicated by letters from A to G), on which 18 buses run (each of which is painted individually, representing 18 communes that are part of the agglomeration).

Additionally, a free shuttle bus runs in the historic center of the city at intervals of 15 minutes.

Monuments of medieval architecture

• Chateau Nolibo and the Old Castle , now destroyed
• Donjon Lacataie (XV century), included in the additional list of historical monuments of France
• Roman fortress houses of Mont de Marsana (XII century), the complex is included in the additional list of historical monuments
• City fortifications of Mont de Marsan (XII century), the complex is included in the additional list of historical monuments
• Cordelier Monastery and its chapel, (XII century)

Religious monuments

• Church of Saint-Médard-de-Bosse (XI century)
• Old Romanesque chapel (XIV century), Place Pujolin , an object added to the list of historical monuments
• Church de la Madeleine (1830), the object is included in the additional list of historical monuments
• Temple of Mont de Marsan (1870)

Laundry areas

Mont de Marsan is built on the banks of three rivers and the city carefully stores historical heritage sites located near the water. В наше время насчитывается семь старинных оборудованных общественных мест для стирки белья , 6 из которых находятся в самом городе, и 1 в пригороде Сен-Медар. Помимо них остались частные прачечные, которые скрыты в садах и дворах.

Самым старым из сохранившихся городских мест стирки белья является прачечная Lavoir du Bourg Neuf , расположенная у площади Anciens Combattants , ниже проходящего шоссе. Она построена у подножия городских укреплений XII века и донжона Лакатайе , у впадины старого рва, защищавшего город. Здесь устроен фонтан, на котором выгравирована дата 1734 . В 1894 городские власти выполнили восстановительные работы этой крытой прачечной, имеющей две ёмкости (одна для чистки и другая для отбеливания). В 1934 году объект снова отремонтировали, починив кровлю, освежив декор, заменив деревянные обшивки и починив ступеньки. В наши дни крыша прачечной покрыта черепицей, а доступ к объекту защищён воротами.

Тем не менее, символом города считается прачечная Lavoir de la Cale de l'Abreuvoir , которую построили в 1870 году по распоряжению мэра, после заиления прачечной Fontaine du Bourg (современная площадь у мэрии). Она находится у кромки левого берега реки Мидуз возле места слияния. Эта прачечная имеет форму половинчатого эллипса, а её фасад выполнен в виде десяти арок на каменных колоннах. Весной 2009 года этот объект был отремонтирован, выполнена гидроизоляция бассейнов и почищен фасад. Этот объект упомянут в книге, посвящённой ста самым красивым местам стирки белья Франции.

• Парк Жана Рамо (1813 год), знаковый сад Мон-де-Марсана занимает площадь 6 гектаров и расположен на северном берегу реки Дуз.
• Парк дикой природы Nahuques (23 га) с детской игровой площадкой и животными в естественной среде опитания (пони, козлята, ламы, кенгуру- валлаби , павлин и др.).
• Парк Этьенна Лаказ с игровой площадкой и полем для петанка .
• Бульвар имени 21 августа 1944 года , устроенный вдоль берега Миду.
• Сквер у площади Anciens Combattants.
• Круглый пруд с деревянными дорожками и понтоном для рыбалки.

Народное гуляние «La Madeleine»

Без сомнения, праздник Мадлен , традиции которого восходят к XVII веку, является самым крупным и любимым жителями городским праздником. Праздник устраивается в стиле ферии (больших ежегодных праздников юга Франции и Испании), и наряду с Праздником Дакса и Праздником Байонны , считается самым крупным народным гулянием юго-запада Франции. Ежегодно в третью неделю июля около 600 000 человек участвуют в уличных представлениях и бычьих зрелищах , проводимых на арене Плюмасон. Мон-де-Марсан является членом «Союза городов корриды Франции».

Фестиваль «Arte Flamenco»

Генеральный совет департамента Ланды каждый год, начиная с 1989 года, устраивает в Мон-де-Марсане один из самых крупных во Франции фестивалей, посвящённый фламенко — «Arte Flamenco». На протяжении пяти дней первой недели июля театры, кафе и улицы города движутся в ритме испанского танца и песни. Программу этого авторитетного фестиваля дополняют детские представления, демонстрационные показы и выставки.

Скульптуры Мон-де-Марсана

Каждые два года, как правило весной, мастера современного искусства, салоны и художественные мастерские преображают исторические места и природные пространства города, превращая Мон-де-Марсан в выставочную галерею под открытым небом. Проведение этого фестиваля поддерживает репутацию Мон-де-Марсана как французской столицы современной скульптуры.

В городе базируется регбийная команда, играющая во втором дивизионе чемпионата Франции по регби .

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