Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
Commune
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Cathedral
Coat of arms
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Location in France Show map of France Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges Location in Occitanie Show map of Occitanie
Country	France
Region	Occitanie
Department	Haute-Garonne
Arrondissement	Saint-Gaudens
Canton	Bagnères-de-Luchon
Area 1	11.17 km2 (4.31 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	233
• Density	20.86/km2 (54.03/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	31472 /31510
Elevation	421–1,016 m (1,381–3,333 ft) (avg. 518 m or 1,699 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges is a small town in southwestern France. It is located in the Haute-Garonne area. This town is special because it used to be the home of a bishop. It is also known as one of "The Most Beautiful Villages of France."

History of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges

This area has a long and interesting past.

Ancient Roman Town

Around 406 AD, a writer named Saint Jerome said that a Roman general named Pompey started a Roman town here. This was after Pompey's military trip to Spain. He likely wanted to protect the path to the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees mountains.

The Roman town was built in the valley below where the village is now. It was called Lugdunum Convenarum. This town grew quite large, with about 30,000 people at its busiest time. It was part of a Roman area called Novempopulana.

The town also had a growing Christian community. By the late 300s, it had its own bishop. Some people believe that Herod Antipas, a ruler from the Bible, was sent here in 39 AD by Emperor Caligula.

Decline and Rebirth

In 405 AD, a group called the Vandals attacked the town. This made people move up to the safer hilltop area. Later, in 585 AD, another group called the Burgundians also attacked.

The town then became less important for almost 500 years. However, the bishop's role continued. In the 800s, the bishop moved to a new church area.

Saint Bertrand's Influence

In 1083, a knight named Bertrand de l'Isle-Jourdain became the bishop of Comminges. He ordered the building of the famous cathedral and a Romanesque cloister.

This place then became an important stop for pilgrims. These were people traveling on the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela.

In the 1200s, Bertrand de l'Isle became known as Saint-Bertrand. Because of him, Lugdunum Convenarum was renamed Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges. The name Comminges comes from a Latin word meaning "those who came together." This refers to the people who gathered at Pompey's new settlement.

On July 19, 2012, the famous Tour de France bicycle race passed through this historic village.

What to See in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges

There are many interesting places to visit in this village.

Main Attractions

• Former Cathedral: This is a very old and beautiful church.
• Roman Ruins: You can see the remains of Roman baths (thermae) and a theater.
• Medieval Village: The village itself looks like it's from the Middle Ages. It has old arches and stone passages.

Village Gates

The village has several old gates.

• Cabirole Gate: On this gate, you can still see writing about a tax on fish that was set by King Louis XIV.
• Majou Gate: This gate is special because it's the one pilgrims used when they visited the town.

If you walk along the old walls, you can see the Matacan Rock. A legend says that a person named Gundoald was executed there long ago.

The Former Cathedral

When you enter the cathedral, you will notice three different building styles:

• Romanesque: This part is from the 12th century.
• Gothic: This part was added in the 14th century by Bertrand de Goth.
• Renaissance: This style, including the organ, was added in the 16th century.

The entrance area has two huge pillars. The floors are made of marble and have old tombs. The main part of the church is also Romanesque and offers great views.

The Gothic part of the cathedral is very tall and impressive. It has beautiful stained-glass windows.

The wooden seats in the choir area were made a long time ago. Experts believe they were created by artists from France, Spain, and Italy. These seats show characters from both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

This former cathedral is so important that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is part of the famous pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in France.

The cathedral in the Ville Haute dominating the Ville Basse

Population

The people who live in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges are called Commingeois. This name comes from the old region of Comminges.

Twin Towns

• Isábena, Spain (since 2018)

See also

In Spanish: Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges para niños