History:
The name of the city comes from vicus, village where the market is held, and Fidentia hypothetical Gallo-Roman owner who would give his name to the manor in the eighth century.
The human presence in the town is attested from prehistory, but it is the promontory of Saint-Jean Castex, south of the city, which will reveal the first settlement from the Iron Age. This oppidum fortified place of occupation, provide an abundant and varied archaeological material.
The Gallo-Roman period, beginning in the second half of the first century BC. BC, we is better known according to recent research. They reveal the existence of road village (Mansio) of Bésino located on the ancient road Toulouse-Bordeaux between the cemetery and the school, in the neighborhood of Mas-Bielh.
Agricultural establishments around allowed to supply wheat Eluza, the capital city (administrative area) which probably belonged to the predecessors.
With the barbarian invasions of the fifth century opens a period of turmoil and destruction that will remove most of the achievements made by the Roman civilization. Presumably Bésino had to suffer abuses committed by the invaders from the north.
In 418, the Roman Emperor Honorius says Vic region to Visigoth assigned to protect until 506. The first Christians settled in their first Saint Peter's church in vicus promontory overlooking the ancient Bésino south.
In 508, Clovis hunted by Franks, Visigoths leave the region to Spain, the Frankish king would then handed the vicus and the church to the bishop of Auch.
On another nipple Osse between the east and south Cézens stream, will develop a controlled implantation by the military lords Gascon siteholders the seventh century. If the authority of bishops is significant that of these soldiers is not less duality that will feed for centuries the conflict between these two powers.
Castrum This will be the main center of Fezensac County, the first wooden fortress appears as 818 Lieutard Comte.
The sauveté and Castelnau...
In the early eleventh century Vic is in a bipolar form, count's castle in the south and St. Peter's Church in the north. From that moment the incessant quarrels will intervene between Auch bishop and the Counts of Fezensac and Armagnac to sit their power over the city.
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries Vic grows several quarters; east, the "suburb of Judea" or "barry of Losse"; to the west, the "hoods", reserved for lepers and their descendants. Parsan of the "Top Door" is crossed from east to west by the "gran carrero" Cassaignolles street while main artery of the city. In the center gradually develops the area "Marcadère" which later would rise between a fortified hall blocks (1426) also serves as a common home. The tour of this wasteland is built, and in 1648, appear arcades giving the whole the appearance of a country house. Northeast of vicus extends said in the "hospital" (St. Jacques) opening to the east by the "Debate door." The new entity walled and fortified surrounds ditches that current streets overlap.
The new power held by the consuls from the local market and craft bourgeoisie boasts ancient oral traditions, confirmed in 1379 by Count John II.
The church also contributes to this expansion with the development of the monastery of Our Lady, former hospital on the Jacobean path, built in "barn", with collegiate.
In 1369, the English garrison Vicois hunt at one of their city. Perhaps is it because of the presence of a gold fleur de lis on the coat of arms of Vic...
In 1383, the convent of the Cordeliers was built near the Count's castle, with its church dedicated to Our Lady of Good Hope. Conserved during the wars of religion, it will in turn taken by the Huguenots and Catholics.
In 1569, the Earl of Montgomery, protestant warlord enters Vic and destroyed the Cordeliers, except the chapel became temple, then bursts the vaults of the Saint-Pierre, set fire to the rest, burn all archives and seized all ecclesiastical goods.
Catholics take over the city in 1580 that Protestants resume by entering through a breach in the wall of the Faubourg de Losse (rue de la Breccia). Catholics the issue again in 1585, but will fall between Protestant hands of the head Parrabère remaining two years repelling attacks Leaguers controlled by Bastard. In total, the city had to support eight seats in twenty years.
The sixteenth and the seventeenth century was marked by some economic development of the city, but will eventually be marked by the royal tax burden, exacerbated by natural disasters and pestilence (1630-1631). Demographic consequences will be very severe.
The year 1660 was marked by an important event: the transition to Vic Louis XIV visiting the Spanish border take wife. On this day of April, while the royal procession made stops in the city where all the good houses were requisitioned to bed the royal family and numerous suite. The young monarch will be celebrated at the height of his rank and d'Artagnan, head of the Musketeers of the Royal Guard, will honor his hometown.
The end of the old regime and the revolution is characterized by personal quarrels and precedence reactivated by a few events from July to October 1789, which does not seem to interest them Vicois.
Terror will see two executions Auch Vicois: Chambeau the noble Areyx of the Téoulère and unsworn priest Lebbe-Larroque; Girondins of incarceration such Cassaignolles, Mahome or house arrest (Barats, Maravat). The sans-culotte mainly recruited among artisans, many of the city: Cagnieux, Escousse, Abadie, Marsan...
Church property and emigrants become national assets purchased by Vicois to: Our Lady returns to Maravat, the convent of the Cordeliers in Lacroix then Mahome the Téoulère in Meilhan, Beaulieu and Prade River.
Some Vicois are illustrated in the National Guard as the Delors and Cassaignolles general.
In the end, the revolutionary disorders will benefit the small local bourgeoisie who will be the main beneficiaries.
The nineteenth century saw the city change its shape: the town hall square is raised, the bridge of Notre Dame and the hall repaired and the church whose major work was completed in 1820. landscape walks (paths Gabarrot) trees are planted. The former convent of the Cordeliers becomes a highly anticipated hospice. Place takes are square appearance with the building beautiful stone houses in the north and east. The church tower (1848) concerned the mayor and the factory council.
Private schools give way to public school boys, the Capuchins (1889) and girls Porteneuve street.
The century is marked by the political duality between Republicans and Bonapartist; each camp attending his coffee, his circle, maintains its own musical society... to honor their own brothel!
Republicans and Bonapartists mayors concerned to build fountains, tiling the arches, to repair local roads... and create twelve privies: the first in the history vicoise!
The twentieth century was marked, in its first part, the term of office of Dr. Delucq that will remain for mayor from 1904 to 1944. Its passage will be realized many achievements: rectification bed Osse (1911), construction of the kiosk music (1908) with a donation of DREME family, the work of the railway Auch-Eauze (1906), Hall poultry (1937), construction of the hospital that will bear his name (1922-1926), silos Vicois (1933) and wine cooperative (1937)... But, Mayor Delucq will also look to the arts (statues of the Bacchante and Child missing in Dauphin in 1943) and will craft the Great Gallo-Roman Festivals 1936.
It builds arenas (1931) to make way for wooden ones who were lace of Foirail. Thus organized bullfights will give Vic a national will, while the cavalcades and Pentecostal festivities mark the city its reputation. This very visionary mayor is also interested in the lives of its citizens, with Thiard priest who accompanied him in the duration of his ministry. They will both be very active to help the bereaved families; WWI will be left in the fighting hundred six Vicois.
The Second World War will see many refugees in Vic, including Lorraine Cheminot and hidden Jewish families in some families than Vicois never denounced to the Gestapo. The resistance will be very active and men and women will leave their lives, executed or deported (Julie Saint-Avit..).
After Liesses release, the concern of elected shall drinking water: except some fountains, water supply does not exist. It was not until 1953, with the mayor Louis Gélas.
The city is adorned with many amenities: school and kindergarten (1960), swimming pool (1963) stage Goulin (1954), gymnasium (1967), new gendarmerie (1968) and all-new town hall postage perception (1969) resulting in the destruction of historical monuments (town hall tower of the fourteenth century and facade of the old town hall).
The significant change in the appearance of the city comes at the initiative of Mayor Marc Castex (1971-1989): School group (1969-1970), church renovation (1973), campground, south ring road (1972 -1979), hospital expansion (1978-1982), retirement home Fleuri Castle (1977), COSEC (1980)... and modernization of roads, street lighting, redevelopment of the emergency services...
New districts appear: Beausoleil (1960), Tivoli (1962), the Pradette (1965) Armagnac subdivision (1970), the Blanché (1973), the Hountête (1976) Cassagneux (1982), Cousteau (1987) and the Rock (2003) and CAUDERON (2008); and artisanal sectors such Fagia (1966).
In the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, the rural exodus seems to have stabilized here, but the craftsmen who close shop rarely find a successor, although downtown escape this conclusion by the occupation mainly banking, insurance and services.
Today, the seventh largest city by population department, Vic-Fezensac continues to enjoy his media has its Pentecost Feria and Tempo Latino salsa festival that attracts thousands of visitors.
Community life is rich and varied; the many associations ensure constant entertainment in the city.
