History :
Since 2000 years, Cahors is shepped in history
and preserved many vestiges of culture.
In Gallo-Roman
Times, Cahors, founded under the name of Divona, is
a significant commercial and cultural
crossroads at the the intersection of many roman
roads. Roman bridge, foundations of the theatre,
part of the aqueduct or gallo-roman baths, are the
only visible remains from that era.
From the IVth to the XIIth , Cahors will be successively
disturbed by a long period of "Barbarian" invasions
(Vandal, Visigoth, Sarazin, Normand, English).
From
the XIII th, Cahors enjoyed a period of unprecedented
expansion, linked to the arrival of bankers from
Lombardy and to the presence of merchants of international
stature who will make city one of the principal money
market of Christendom.
In 1308 the construction of the famous Valentré Bridge
starts. It will only be achieved in the second half
of the XIVth. Today, this outstanding example of
mediaeval defensive architecture is inscribed on
the Unesco World Heritage.
In 1314, a native of Cahors,
Jacques Duèze,
became Pope under the name of John XXII. He bringed
a new impetus to the town. He gave Cahors a Charterhouse,
called on Cahors wine producers to make the pontifical
wine in Avignon and gave the city a University whose
will compete with those of Toulouse turning Cahors
into an intellectual centre.
After the Hundred Year's
War - whose some military buildings are still visible
today - the Renaissance
will bring to Cahors an artistic (Clement Marot,
Olivier de Magny, Hugues Salel, Fenelon) and architectural
(cloister of the St. Stephen's Cathedral) revival
in spite of the decline and the closing of the University
in 1751.
In the XIX th, Cahors spreaded, took over the whole
of the isthmus again : opening up and straightening
of streets, construction of public buildings (law
courts, town hall, theatre, library, station).
Today, without disavowing its history, Cahors remains
a significant crossroads (aerodrome, motorway A20,
SNCF)
Source
: Cahors, Une jeune ville de 2000 ans de Alexandre
Marciel
The historic road to Compostella :
Situated on the Via Podiensis (Puy
in Velay- Ronceveaux); between the abbeys of Conques,
Cordes and Moissac; a few leagues from Rocamadour, Cahors
was, and still remains, a significant stage on the route
taken by pilgrims bound for Compostella. As
far back as 1807, we can note, in the Cahors's archives,
the developpment of hospitals, lodgings, neighbourhoods
and churches to receive this pilgrims.
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