Religion & Churches in Ambialet

Religion shapes the way that we live our lives and how society views others. Many French people consider themselves to be Catholic, but it is not common for all to to go to a weekly church service. Roman Catholicism was France’s state religion until 1905, when a new law of the Third French Republic mandated the separation between Church and State.

There have been a total of five churches in Ambialet:

• Eglise de Lacondomine was designed by Jean-Baptiste Vergnes (1829-1886). The Romanesque bell tower has been recently restored albeit the church itself no longer stands.

• Eglise de Bonneval collapsed in 1867 and it was later reconstructed in neo-Gothic style. It is no longer in use today.

Remains of Eglise Saint-Gilles    © Tales of a Flaneur 

• Notre-Dame-de-la-Capelle was built near the former Trencavel Castle. This church was strictly used as a private chapel by  these Lords from 1388 to 1762. After the siege of the 1860s, it became a parish church. Today, it is in ruins. 

• Eglise Saint-Gilles was the first parish church, which was so named because the Lords of Ambialet, the Trencavel family, worshiped this saint.  This church was built in the 11^th century and it was devoted to one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages, Saint Gilles. The steeple is perched on a platform based on the remains of a Roman fort.  It was burned to the ground in the Wars of Religion. Today, it now serves as an exhibition hall for the works of local painters, artists, photographers, and so on.

• Notre-Dame-de-L'Oder is a Romanesque chapel which is the only church in use today. It is located at the top of a hill which overlooks the village of Ambialet. It was built in 1057. In 1866, it was restored by Father Clausade, the Franciscan Friar who restored the Priory. The church is alive and well today with many villagers attending the 11:15 a.m. mass and it boasts a lively choir.  

© Tales of a Flaneur

These five churches show that religious life and communal worship has always been very important in Ambialet. The town itself was not free of heresy, and did get entangled in the politics of the Albigensian Crusades ~ mainly because the Trencavel had Cathar sympathies. But Ambialet would prosper in the aftermath of these Crusades, thanks to the ingenuity and leadership of the town consuls.

Today, pilgrims coming to Ambialet very much enjoy the Stations of the Cross, installed by the Friars along the route to the priory, that is, from the bottom of the hill (base of the village) to the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-L'Oder at the top. It’s definitely a bit of a climb with the rocky trail cutting into stone cliffs! According to legend, there was once a lady who was barren and prayed to God for children. She followed the Stations of the Cross up the hill on her knees all the while being in deep prayer. It is said that she later went on to have eleven children! The Stations are a pilgrimage route in use today. 

If you are ever in Ambialet, it’s worth the trek up to the top of the hill to visit the Chapel ~ the view is absolutely breathtaking!

<3

["Les Eglises" in Ambialet prestígíeux et secret, pp. 25-26]

The Albigensian Crusades

Imagine a time in which the principles and doctrine of the Christine faith were little understood by most people, and what little you understood of your own religion was being challenged and contested by others - "unbelievers." Imagine controversies erupting in churches because of the doctrinal disputes. Imagine a host of different preachers on the streets trying to win audiences and adherents.  This happened in the early 13^th century, when the problem of heresy was becoming widespread in Europe.  In southwest France, the largest group of heretics were the "Cathars." Among their shared beliefs, they held there to be two, very different Gods: one who was good and ruled over the spiritual world; and, the other, who was evil and ruled over the material world.  The Cathars attracted many followers in the south; within time, they were viewed as an ‘evil rival’ to the Catholic Church.  The emergence of this heresy, and the religious controversies sparked by it, eventually lead to religious warfare.

Cathars expelled from Carcassonne

The Albigensian Crusades (1209–1229) were a 20-year military campaign called by Pope Innocent III on behalf of the Catholic Church to eliminate the Cathar heresy in region of Languedoc. This was made possible because there was no separation of Church and State at this time. Therefore, large armies might be mobilized in the name of faith, and such wars justified along religious grounds.

Many cities were effected by these Crusades: many of these places we visited this semester ~ Toulouse, Carcassonne, Albi, Narbonne, and Moissac.

Many heretics tried to flee and hide from the crusaders. Some even came to Ambialet to hide in the "Cluzels" ~ shelters dug in the earth to provide protection. There were over 200 Cluzels in the Ambialet area. Unfortunately, neighbors and church officials found most of these heretics and brought them to Inquisitors.  As well, the Trencavel family, who long ruled this region, lost power because of their Cathar sympathies.

Contrary to what a lot of people think, the Albigensian Crusades did not greatly reduce the Cathars or their influence.  Some have argued that, in fact, the opposite happened.  What did eventually have effect was the creation and institutionalization of the Medieval Inquisition - a tribunal established by the Roman papacy, in the aftermath of the Albigensian Crusades, to deal with the continuing problem of heresy.  

Religion has always been and always will be of importance in Southern France. 

 <3

[Joseph R. Strayer, The Albigensian Crusades]

["Le Cluzel" in Ambialet prestígíeux et secret, p. 21]

Trencavel Family

Trencavel Coat of Arms

When you ask someone what their dream is, the largest response will be to win the lottery, buy a nice car, and own an island. That sounds like a pretty good dream to me. Well, what if that really did happen, minus winning the lottery, but having money at your constant disposal. Imagine yourself as part of the Trencavel family.

The Trencavel was an important noble family in Languedoc during the 10^th - 13^th centuries. They were the viscounts of Albi and many other surrounding areas. The Trencavels had a significant amount of land in the center of Languedoc which was surrounded by land of the Counts of Barcelona and the Counts of Toulouse. The Trencavels allied with the Counts of Barcelona and gained much power. 

The Trencavel family ruled Ambialet at this time. They had a great Château atop a mountain. With Ambialet being a Presqu’île, the Trencavel was able to control trade and communication. They charged large sums of money to pass through their waters and allowed only the passing of certain goods. From which, great revenue was accumulated.

Though, at this time, heresy was growing significantly. The family took advantage of the Cathar heretics, and was of the first to have the Albigensian Crusades launched against them.

As a result of the Albigensian Crusades, the Trencavel Family lost all their lands and titles. Ambialet then had to learn to live and grow as a community without the noble family governing their area.

The Trencavel family seems to have had it pretty well, besides loosing all their wealth, but I think anyone would be content living the life that they did for a several hundred years while ruling many lands.

<3

[www.languedoc-france.info, The House of Trencavel]

[Ambialet prestíqíeux et secret, "La Fin Des Trencavel", p. 8]