Historical Records of Villeneuve-lès-Béziers 17th November, 2010 Once upon a time ... Villeneuve-lès-Béziers .... In the second part of XVII Century in the reign of King Louis XIV, the Count of Villeneuve had problems with watering his land which was planted with fruit trees, apricot, plum, and almond. He decided to enter into a contract with Pierre-Paul Riquet (Biterrois who was the constructor of the Canal du Midi) ... indeed, the Count  of Villeneuve had basalt stones on his land at the Domaine de "Roque Haute" and Pierre-Paul Riquet needed them for the construction of the Canal. The Count of Villeneuve gave the stones in exchange for the "Canalet" built in the town by Pierre-Paul Riquet ; this word literally means "little channel". This construction made possible the irrigation of his land.The "Martellière" type of irrigation valves still exist ... this part of Villeneuve les Beziers is also still known as "Canalet". Hospital Street Located in the Old Village area, it was where "the Priory Thoumieux", run by Nuns, provided care to the poor. The Nobility were sufficiently concerned for their good name to sell their property, which was auctioned. You can still see the three porches of the Abbey in September 4th Street, and the enclosed gardens. Miracles Hotel Street - now Germaine Bousquet Street. This street was formerly called "Rue Hotel des Miracles". At No. 5 there was a hostel where beggars and cripples could find refuge. Tradition says that, when they left, they were cured of their ills. It was renamed Germaine BOUSQUET Street after the 2nd World War, in commemoration of a member of the Resistance, who lived on this street, and was arrested by the Gestapo and died under torture. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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Villeneuve la Crémade or the etymology of Villeneuve-lès-Béziers Villeneuve mans "new town" (the Latin word "villa", referring originally to "cottage" or "farm", became "hamlet" or "village"). Villeneuve was built in 778 A.D on barren soil, part of the property given by the Emperor Charlemagne to a man called Valchaire. At first, it was  called "Villeneuve la Crémade" because it was burned by the troops of Simon de Montfort* and it retained this name until 1631. It is from this date on the registers of civil status, the town took the name of Villeneuve-lès-Béziers.The word "lès" is not an article but a preposition meaning "beside, near", derived from the Latin root "latus"                                            · *Simon de Montfort was one of the most important nobles who led                                                      the crusade against the Cathars in the early 13th century… A few words about the Crusade against the Albigenses… On June 25th 1218, while laying siege to Toulouse with his army of crusaders, Simon de Montfort was mortally wounded by a stone thrown from the walls. The death of the leader of the crusade against the Albigenses was perceived as a victory for the Southerners, a short-term victory that would not prevent the complete submission of the Count of Toulouse to the King of France ten years later. On September 12, 1213, against all odds, Simon de Montfort had defeated the Count of Toulouse and his ally Peter II of Aragon at Muret. Peter II was killed during the battle, but Raimon VI fled to England. Under pressure from the Bishops of the South and pressed from the North, the Pope deprives the Count and many local nobles of their lands and titles. It was more than the people of the South could withstandand, and in particular the nobles who were dispossessed of their land. For them, who had hitherto kept away from the crusade, it was not the time to fight against the Cathar heretics (also called Albigenses), but for the defense of the South, its Customs and its Rights. In a final uprising, Raimon VI and his son, the future Raymond VII, left their exile in England and returned in triumph to Avignon. With their vassals, who remained faithful, including the Count of Comminges, they marched on Toulouse and surreptitiously entered the city September 13, 1217 under cover of thick fog. Immediately, people rushed to the French garrison, and carried out a massacre. The survivors took refuge in Narbonne Castle, the traditional residence of the Counts of the city, along with the wife of Simon de Montfort. He, away fighting in the Rhone Valley, returns, too impatient for a long siege and intervenes at once in the fighting. On June 25, 1218, whilst at his devotions, he was informed of a break-out from Toulouse. Having received communion for the last time he dons his helmet and climbs into battle. He was mortally wounded: a "tinker" spray machine used for cross-fire on the ramparts of the city and operated by a group of women, threw a stone weighing six kilos with such force that his protective head armour explodes along with his skull! Deprived of their leader, the Crusaders lifted the siege of the city. Raymond VI and his son Raymond VII come gradually to regain much of their land. The King of France Philippe Auguste  had hitherto kept out of the crusade, seeing he had his work cut out on the Northern border of his kingdom with his enemies in Flanders, England and Germany. After the death of Montfort his son Louis was sent to the Crusaders’ rescue. The prince does not make any discrimination - in the town of Marmande, which had resisted him, he massacred all 5,000 inhabitants! Louis the Lion Jean fails to take Toulouse and had to withdraw. But Raymond VI died, as does Philippe Auguste soon after. The new count of Toulouse, Raymond VII, was excommunicated and Louis the Lion became Louis VIII, engaging in a second expedition against him. Having ravaged the country himself, he died on his return journey, of acute dysentery at Montpensier, Auvergne, on November 8, 1226. His widow, Blanche de Castille negotiated, on behalf of the new King, Louis IX, (St. Louis) a peace treaty with Toulouse. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Villeneuve history