Gitealors - St Papoul

St Papoul -  a 10 minute drive away: Set in Lauragais, Saint-Papoul lies on the first foothills of the "Black Mountain", 7 km from Castelnaudary, 35 km from Carcassonne and 60 km from Toulouse.

The access to the enclosed village went though gateways. The Eastern Gate, quadrangular with loop-holes was erected by Guillaume de Cardaillac, Saint-Papoul's third bishop. It was used as a tower for the guards as well as the bishopric's jail. On the inner side, in the semi-circular arch, one can admire a wooden virgin from the 14th century. The heart of the village displays narrow streets with half timbered, corbelling houses

The abbey of St Papoul: Founded in the 8th century, and placed under the rule of Saint Benedict. Saint Papoul, a follower of Saint Saturnin, the first bishop of Toulouse (3rd century) was martyred and had the top of his skull severed off in a place called the Hermitage. According to the legend, he bent down and pick up the top of his skull. A spring gushed out in that place.

Saint Berenger, a monk well-known for his asceticism lived there in the 11th century. Crowds came to the abbey to worship on his grave after miracles had taken place here.

In 1317, Pope John XXII made the village into a See. Up to the Revolution Saint-Papoul had 34 bishops. In 1361 the cathedral was plundered by the "routiers" (companies of looters) and in 1595 by the protestants.

Important restorations took place in the abbey and the bishop's palace was rebuilt in the 17th and the 18th centuries. The Revolution put an end to the bishopric and the cathedral was turned into a parish church.