Located on the banks of the River Agout, Burlats is a medieval village with a wealth of historic sites.
The village is thought to have been inhabited for several millennia.
So it's hardly surprising that it boasts a number of interesting sites.
Starting with the Pavillon Adélaïde, an integral part of the former priory and a rare example of civil architecture from the second half of the 12th century. According to notarized documents, Viscountess Adélaïde's existence was recognized in 1178. A violet-eyed countess, daughter of Raymond V Count of Toulouse, Adélaîde was loved for her great qualities of heart and mind, and is said to have held a court of love here. The troubadour Arnaud de Mareuil was madly in love with her, and was one of the few troubadours to have loved and sung only one lady.
In the 14th or 15th century, the pavilion, the only remains of the ruined castle of the powerful Trencavel family, was incorporated into the collegiate church of canons that had succeeded the Benedictine priory. It then served as the dean's residence.
In the 18th century, it was restored and used as a warehouse for the paper mill and then the textile mill (Moulin des Sittelles today). Abandoned after the mill's closure in 1957, it was restored in 1982.
This 12th-century Romanesque house, probably never inhabited by the Viscountess of Albi, is remarkable for its five large windows on the second floor, which light up a single room.
Also worth seeing is the Porte de la Bistoure. In fact, it's the Tour de la Bistoure, one of the four town gates in the city walls, dating back to the 14th century.
In the 17th century, Richelieu ordered the dismantling of the ramparts and towers. Only the Tour de la Bistoure escaped demolition.
The Maison d'Adam and the former collegiate church of Saint-Pierre are also listed historic monuments.
The Benedictine priory was enlarged in the 12th century to become the second largest religious building in the Tarn. At the time, it included the Maison d'Adam. The present-day square was built on the site of the former cloister. The church was made a collegiate church in 1318 by the Occitan Pope Jean XXII. Much of the building was destroyed during the Wars of Religion. The canons left the village and moved to Lautrec.
Burlats is also home to a castle, Château de Burlats. Built in the 14th century by the de Montbrun family, it was damaged during the Huguenot rebellions and rebuilt in 1630.
From 1996 onwards, the château became a hotel-restaurant for a few years, but after the owner's death in 2015, it was resold.
Another château is Le Carla. Built in the 19th century, this elegant edifice now houses the headquarters of Laboratoires Pierre Fabre.
Last but not least, you can take advantage of an artisan space, “l'Art et la Matière”, which brings together Tarn creators and their exhibitions, and offers workshops.
After visiting Burlats, you can also take advantage of the hiking trails to discover exceptional natural sites such as the chaos of La Rouquette, the grotte Saint-Dominique, the Lac du Lézert and the Saut de la Truite, a waterfall named after its fish-shaped rock. And don't forget the 900-tonne Rocher des Sept Faux.
Burlats Town Hall
1, Place du 8 Mai 1945
81100 Burlats
Tel.: 05 63 35 07 83
accueil@mairie-burlats.fr
https://www.mairie-burlats.fr/
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