Beaumont-de-Lomagne

French commune
name= Beaumont-de-Lomagne


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|x = 111 |y = 200
time zone = CET (GMT +1)
lat_long = coord|43|53|02|N|0|59|21|E|region:FR_type:city
region= Midi-Pyrénées
departement= Tarn-et-Garonne
arrondissement=Castelsarrasin
canton=Beaumont-de-Lomagne
mayor= Doctor Faustin LLIDO
party =
mandat = 1st
area= 46
date-population= 1999
population=3959
population-ranking=
date-density=
density= 79|

Beaumont-of-Lomagne is a commune in France, located in the département of Tarn-et-Garonne and the region of Midi-Pyrénées. Inhabitants of Beaumont-de-Lomagne are called the "Beaumontois".

Geography

The river Gimone runs through the town.

History

Beaumont-de-Lomagne, bastide, was founded in 1276 following the act of coregency between the abbey of Grandselve and King Philip III of France - the King was represented by his seneschal for Toulouse, Eustace de Beaumarchais. In 1278 the town was granted a very liberal charter of laws, by the standards of the period, defining the rights and duties of its inhabitants.

In 1280, work commenced on a large church; its flat apse shows the influence of Cîtaux. The bell-tower, was made in the 15th century and resembles that of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse. Construction finished around 1430 and the bishop of Montauban, driven out of his city by the English, made it his church until 1432.

The market hall, in the center of the town square, was designed for the markets that took place every Saturday.

The 14th century marked the beginning of the Hundred years war. Taken by the English in 1345, Beaumont was recaptured in 1350 but continued to be plundered by "Great Companies" and experienced civil war due to the opposition of two military chiefs: Count of Foix and Jean I,Comte d'Armagnac. The century ended with an epidemic of the plague which killed 500 inhabitants.

By the 16th century, Beaumont, a catholic town, was surrounded by 3 protestant towns: Montauban, Mas-Grenier and Mauvezin. In 1577, Henri III sold Beaumont to Henri III of Navarre (future Henri IV), leader of the Protestants and whose troops came to massacre a hundred Beaumontois.

In December 1580, 600 mercenaries of Montauban demobilized and took Beaumont. They remained for 2 months, and caused much damage to the town. When peace returned, many Beaumontois adopted the policy of religious tolerance as advocated by Henri IV.

In the 17th century, Louis XIII besieged several cities in the south-west including Beaumont; the "Chateau de Roi" was destroyed by royal decree. In 1639 Louis sold Beaumont to the Prince of Condé. Under Louis XIV, Beaumont was still under the jurisdiction of viscount Armand de Bourbon, prince de Conti, one of the nobility involved in the Fronde, Beaumont was therefore part of the rebellion and this caused considerable losses to the town. There was an occupation in 1651 by Conti troops, rebelling against the king. The incident ended without conflict, but Beaumont, ruined, had to pay a large fine; another plague epidemic also occurred during this event.

In 1702, the town had only 2 400 inhabitants but during this period of peace, it undertook various works and became prosperous again.

In 1777, the ramparts were destroyed.

After sending a delegate to the States General, Beaumont created a revolutionary club but from 1790, the town became part of the Haute-Garonne department and became isolated, to the advantage of Grenade, its neighbour and rival. Grenade became the chief town of district. In 1808, new department divisions were brought in by Napoleon and Beaumont found itself in the Tarn-et-Garonne region, which it still is today.

Though the importance of large fairs has decreased, Beaumont remains an important agricultural market due to the cultivation of garlic. It retains much of its history through its old buildings: the church, its fortress - whose imposing mass dominates the town - the large market with its distinctive roof as well as approximately fifteen private mansions, the majority of which date from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Town government

List of mayors:
*March 2001 - present: Faustin Llido, UMP party

Population

*1962 - 3 486
*1968 - 3 629
*1975 - 3 625
*1982 - 3 579
*1990 - 3 488
*1999 - 3 690

Places and monuments

*Hotel Toureilh (18th century), now the Town Hall
*15th century covered market
*Statue of the mathematician Pierre Fermat
*Hotel Fermat 1500/1800 - Rue Fermat
*House of the two crosses (16th century) - Rue de l'église
*Gothic church and Toulouse-style octagonal bell-tower; construction began around 1280
*Presbytery (around 15th century) - Rue de Presbytere
*House of Seigneur d’Argombat (16th century) - Rue de l'église
*Hôtel Saline puis du Rouble - Rue Fermat
*House of Jean d'Armagnac, (15th century) - rue de la République
*Hotel Noble (18th century) - rue de la République
*Hotel Vergnes (16th and 18th century) - rue Lomagne
*Les Cordeliers, Hopital St Jacques (13th and 14th centuries, convent from 17th century) - rue Despeyrous
*Convent of Clarisses (17th century) - rue Toureilh
*Hotel Long, late (18th century) - rue Nationale
*Hotel François Bordes - street Nationale
*House of François Darquier - rue Darquier
*First houses of Beaumont - rue Launac and rue Toureilh

Famous people associated with the town

* The mathematician Pierre de Fermat was born in the town on August 20 1601.

See also

* Tarn-et-Garonne

External links

Town links

* [http://www.beaumont-de-lomagne.fr/ Site of the commune]
* [http://www.hippobeaumont.com/ Hippodrome of Beaumont-of-Lomagne]

General links

* [http://www.ign.fr/affiche_rubrique.asp?rbr_id=1087&CommuneId=76246 Beaumont-of-Lomagne on the site of the national geographical Institute]
* [http://www.recensement.insee.fr/RP99/rp99/co_navigation.co_page?nivgeo=C&codgeo=82013&theme=ALL&typeprod=ALL〈=FR&quelcas=LISTE Beaumont-of-Lomagne on the site of INSEE]
* [http://www.quid.fr/communes.html?mode=query&req=Beaumont-of-Lomagne Beaumont-of-Lomagne on the site of Quid]
* [http://www.lion1906.com/Pages/ResultatLocalisation.php?InseeVille=820013 Localization of Beaumont-of-Lomagne on a chart of France and communes bordering]