BAZAS

'Bazas' is a commune of the Gironde ''département'', in southwestern France.

Contents

Geography

History

Sights

Economy

Sources, external link and reference

Geography

Bazas stands on a narrow promontory above the Beuve valley 60km/37mi southeast of Bordeaux and 40km/25mi southwest of Marmande.

History

The town was the seat of a bishop from at least the beginning of the 6th century till 1790.
According to Gregory of Tours, Bazas had a bishop at the time of the Vandal invasion in the fifth century.
The dedication of the cathedral to St. John the Baptist is explained in an account given by the same historian that a lady of Bazas, whom certain hagiographers of the nineteenth century believe to have been St. Veronica, brought from Palestine a relic of St. John the Baptist at the time of that saint's death.
For two hundred and fifty years prior to 1057, the Bishop of Bazas bore the title of Bishop of Aire, Dax, Bayonne, Oloron and Lescar.
Pope Urban II (1088-99) preached the crusade at Bazas.

Sights

The town has a Gothic cathedral dating from the 13th to the 16th centuries, now part of Unesco's heritage sights. There are remains of ramparts (15th and 16th centuries) and several old houses of the 16th century. Photo:[1]]
Saturday morning markets are well worth seeing.
The area is also home to the Clementin Castles, built by Pope Clement Vth for himself and his family. You can visit around Bazas :- Chateau de Roquetaillade, Chateau de Villandraut and Chateau de Fargues.

Economy

The vineyards of the vicinity produce white wine. The town is capital of an arrondissement, and carries on tanning, and trade in the well-known Bazadais cattle.

Sources, external link and reference

★ Roquetaillade castle

★ Town council website

★

★ Bordeaux