- Between Gascony and Val d'Albret, Bruch is a medieval village nestling in the hills overlooking the plain of the Garonne. Home ground par excellence, the Southwest has forged an original identity by joining various heritages. Bruchoises traditions have their roots in the Gascon culture and lifestyle unique to Albret, combining authentic and tasty gourmet Gascon heritage, elegant and refined heritage val d'Albret. The two magnificent towers that dominate the village and still visible speaker remains bear witness to the turbulent past of the country in feudal times. The town's origins remain unclear, but the home stand back at least to the Merovingian period ( fifth century. ). The town flourished during the Middle Ages, from hand to hand, lords French English lords and living to the rhythm of the episodes of the history of France, as the religious wars...
- History: The village of Bruch still jealously guards many secrets and has not revealed until now, only fragments of its history. The few documents we possess are the result of research of some historians and enthusiasts including a former teacher of the town, Mr. Depoutot : man of letters and poet who wrote a book about the village, mixing historical facts and oral traditions.
- Etymology: Several assumptions were made about the etymology of the name " Bruch " some would approach the Gallic word " Brucus " which means " the place covered with heather," the other speak of a old French word for a small stream or marshy place else again see a link with the German word " Brücke " bridges...
- Origins : The origins of the villages are blurred, oral tradition tells that at a time so distant that he forgot the date, a certain Sieur Bruch have founded the village and would have left his name...
- Antiquity and the early Middle Age During Roman times, the town Bruch current was within the territory of the Gallic people of Nitiobroges, which was submitted by the Romans around 50 BC. AD The Roman road of Aquitaine ( " Via Aquitania " ), one of the great Roman routes, passing below the village. This suggests that human settlement in the bruchoise campaign is quite old. The oldest archaeological remains have been found in the town date from the Merovingian period ( between the 5th and 7th century). Archaeological excavations in the 60s have updated a Merovingian cemetery on the outskirts of the town. So we can ensure that the first Bruchoises houses date back at least to the 6th century. " The oral tradition tells that in the fifth century, St. Amand, then bishop of Bordeaux, went to the Bapteste Roman villa near Moncrabeau via the Roman road. Passing on Bruchoises land, there came to a halt and its prayer gushes an inexhaustible source. this water he baptized the first Christians in the area. the news spread and gave rise to many pilgrimages. later the water was attributed the source of virtue to cure eye diseases. "
- The Middle Ages :
- The first Bruchoises fortifications : the castle mound. It is assumed that before the construction of the village fortifications in the 12th century, which we still see the remains today, the town was shaped like a castle mound. Appeared in the 10th century, it is a structure composed of a mound of earth on top of which is built a tower of wood and earth. The land generally comes from the ditch was dug around the mound to isolate and raise the mound. For Bruch is assumed that it was a clod trenched with independent tower centerpiece of the collective pregnant, main buildings and walls.
- The Castrum Brughs : The first written mention of making ( Brughs ) is a feudal homage act of recognition of Arnaud Garsie Fossat Raymond Count of Toulouse in 1249 for the Castrum Bruch. The village is led by a dominant noble family of the Fossat of dependent family of knights and peasants. It is assumed that around the first third of the 13th century. The castle mound becoming inadequate ( Defense ineffective? Unsafe ? Will a prestigious building? ) The Bruche lords chose to build a castle. General information on the castrum : From the 13th century, Bruch is described as Castrum : it is a fortified urban area that serves as a refuge in case of attack. The walls separating the rural peasants, bourgeois. The defense is reinforced by deep ditches fed by Auvignon. The organization of Castrum : From plane orthogonal (or checkerboard ) : narrow streets intersect at right angles, forming small pockets of housing. The castrum the center is occupied by the place and the hall is a meeting place and market exchanges. Trades are collected by street (district weavers, butchers... ). The ground floor is usually reserved for shops, and top to homes. Yet we see in the market town houses characteristic of the Middle Ages : corbelled (the first floor above the street, to save space ), and half-timbered cob. They date mainly from the 15th and 16th century.
- Bruch : English possession. Official documents of the Middle Ages that have come we relate a key event in the history of the Castrum. November 16, 1286, Raymond Bernard Fossat, prior of the Mas d' Agen, acting on the new Gautier Fossat makes castrum Bruch tribute to the King of England, Duke of Guyenne and Count of Agen.
- Bertrand Lamothe : Around 1300, the town came under the domination of the family Lamothe lords. 1400, Bertrand de Lamothe, Lord Bruch is attacked and captured by John of Ironwood, his cousin and lord of Tonneins. The story goes that Bertrand was imprisoned for seven years in a dungeon of the castle, with the prohibition to change clothes or cut his hair. It was issued by Pons 6th de Castillon, who, by act of gratitude he bequeathed his castle. Bruch still a British possession until 1453, when the English were expelled from France after the Hundred Years War ( 1337-1453 ).
- Towards the kingdom of France : In the 16th century, the whole region is shaken by violent clashes between Catholics and Protestants. The agenais consuls appealed to the king of France, who sent them Blaise Montluc. It is a powerful lord, both man of letters and soldier, whose mission repression against the Protestants. His troops temporarily set up camp in the village of Bruch. Many places have confrontation below the village between Catholics and Protestants during the religious wars. From 1589 Bruch came under the authority of the kings of Navarre and the kings of France when Henry the 4th ascended the throne. The history of the village is so common in the history of France.
- The Revolution : We note that during the revolutionary period, Bruch became head instead of the 73 cantons of the Lot-et-Garonne ( with 14 parishes : Montesquieu, Bruch, Restaux, Niolles St Laurent, St Matin, Limon, Brazalem, St Leger, Feugarolles, Thouars, mullions, Trenquelléon ).
- The 19th and 20th centuries : In the middle of the 19th century, " the city of Bruch " has more than 1,400 inhabitants and includes many trades such " 1 Retail draper, 2 café, 1 pig merchant, 1 innkeeper, 5 bakers, grocers 3, 3 shoemakers, innkeepers 2, 3 carpenters, 1 blacksmith "but also" huckster 1, 1 and 1 patacher innkeeper. " In the 1900s the town was known for its many fairs, about 8 per year, especially for cattle fairs that were held at the " Foirail " pigs and fairs taking place on the current Town Hall Square. The days of fairs, the mornings were intended to trade, and the afternoon of great balls stood on the place : it was the opportunity to dance, talk, to meet people... and eating the famous " twists. "
- References :
- FL Depoutot " Bruch in Brulhois : its history the legend "
- Samazeuilh, "Geographical Dictionary, historical and archaeological borough of Nerac "
- J. De Laforre, " Historical Notes on the feudal monuments "
- Tholin, "Study on the religious architecture of Agen," 1874
- Truaut JB, " Lavardac and its surroundings ", 1851
- Bourrousse of Laffore J. De, "Notes on the feudal and religious monuments in the Lot et Garonne department," 1879.
