Pomayrols (; ) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.Commune de Pomayrols (12184), INSEE
Geography The commune lies on the southern slope of the high valley of the Lot river, between the cities of Saint-Laurent-d'Olt and Saint-Geniez-d'Olt.
Its land area is 2,340 hectares (in the shape of a triangle); its altitude varies from 433 metres in La Tourre with 1,180 metres at the "Puech of the Blackbird".
Its northeastern limit touches the department of Lozère with the commune of Trélans. It follows the old track "drailhe" which was used by the pilgrims of the Way of St. James and is now GR footpath n° 6 which connects Le Puy-en-Velay to Conques.
In southeast, from the ravine of the Drop to Puech Grond is used as limit with the commune of Saint-Laurent-d'Olt.
In the south, runs the Lot river which goes down from Saint-Laurent-d'Olt; it separates the commune with that from La Capelle-Bonance.
The river is used as border between two extremely different natural areas: mounts of Aubrac in north, large plateaus in the south.
In the southwest, the road on right bank of the brook of Bonance (known as "Canto Serp") borders the commune of Saint-Geniez-d'Olt.
In the northwest the commune is separated from that of Aurelle-Verlac by a line which passes under Ginestes, Molière and Fraïssinède.
Localities and hamlets Names of villages, farms and hamlets located on the territory of the commune in French and Occitan, with translation and origin.
Pomayrols, (Pomairòls): place with the many apple trees, comes from Latin poma, pomum: apple.
Chipole, (Gipola), "at Gipou" place which belongs to Joseph (Latin origin); La Tourre, Torre: the tower, in Latin turris: the tower. Vialaneuve, (the viala nova): the new way or new villa, from Latin via: the way. La Bessière, ( becièra ): planted place of birches, from Latin betullus: birch.
Le Monna Les Gandalgues La Fage, ( the Fagia, in the past, the Clara Fagia): clearing of beeches, in Latin fagus/fagea: beech. Bonance Rouveret, (Roveret): plantation of oaks; place planted of reopen (oaks): from Latin robur: reopen. Les Vergounhoux, (los Vergonhôs): the vergogneux ones (humble and modest shy persons) in Latin vergonha: timidity. Lespinasse (the espinassa): where there are thorn-bushes, in Latin spina: spine. Le Flourigués (florigués): flowered place, in Latin flor: flower. La Boulesq, (the bolesc): place or house belonging to "Ball" (Latin origin). Falguières, (will falguièras): ferns, in Latin filicaria: fern. Les Crouzets, (los crosets): the small hollows, come from Celtic the kris, then in popular Latin crosus: hollow. Le Martinesq (lo Martinesc): place or house which belongs to Martin (Latin origin). La Plagne, (the planha): flat place, in Latin planea: plain. Les Pougettes La Bourgade, (the borgada): the village, comes from Germanic, burg: city. Les Gandalgues
The farms and hamlets located on left bank of the Lot river forming are added part of the parish of Pomayrols:
In the commune of Capelle-Bonance: La Prade Pomiès Navechs Le Gibertès Le Laus
In the commune of Saint-Geniez-in Olt: Cayzac (Caïsac): place pertaining to "Caïus" (Latin origin).
(Sources: Al Canton of Feels-Ginièis, departmental mission of the culture, )
Nature
Landscapes
The formerly cultivated slopes made place with the wood of oaks or chestnuts intersected with natural meadows.
On the heights, the moors of heathers were gradually replaced by vast meadows and fields of cereals.
On the commune, since the 1970s, the farmers forsook little by little the slopes with the profit heights easier to exploit.
If this change is not without incidences on the quality of surrounding spring waters, at the bottom of the valley on the other hand, this evolution allowed to see developing vast areas with the passing of years where nature took again its rights for the greatest benefit of the flora and fauna.
On along the river, this new situation does not make forget the maintenance of the banks in order to reduce the devastators effects of the risings.
Natura 2000 setting
To preserve biodiversity in the high valley of the Lot, the area between the cities of Espalion and Saint-Laurent-d'Olt was included in the Natura 2000 network.
In Pomayrols, on right bank of the river, the grounds located under the road n° 509 starting from the place known as:"Le Gravas" to the limit of Saint Laurent are indexed by the Général council of Aveyron as a sensitive natural area .
This part of the valley which extends on from banks makes from now on the object of specific contracts and procedures as regards agriculture in order to guarantee the protection of these mediums and to take care of the quietude of the animal species present.
History
Before the French Revolution, the castle and its land had successively belonged to several families of former Nobility.
Rights and duties of the lord of the manor of Pomayrols: The Lord of the manor had on his field (Manorialism) the duty to ensure peace and safety for the people. In order to maintain the peace, he had the legal authority, the right to make "the high, middle and low justice".
To show this capacity, he was allowed to draw up one or several Gibbet. (In French this right was called: right of fork). In Pomayrols, the gibbet was located at the cross of the stake (formerly a much attended crossing point). To ensure the safety of the goods and the people, he had to maintain men trained with the use of the weapons.
These expenses were financed by the perception of taxes and various royalties such as (Censive, Champart, Lods_&_sales and commun run of peace). Because of the scarcity of currency, these taxes were paid either in food products or in day's works ( Corvée). These local taxes resulting from Feudalism would be applied until 4 August 1789.
Cayrodes 1261–1408 In 1261, the seigniory belonged to the family of Cayrodes, Pons de Cayrodes (Étienne de Cayrodes'son) was the first of this line.
(the pact of marriage of Guillemette the Pons de Cayrodes' sister going back to 1261 is the oldest document which mentions the existence of the castle of Pomayrols.)
In 1360, by the Treaty of Brétigny, a great part of the South-west of France including Rouergue was annexed to Guyenne which was already an English possession since 1259.
Pomayrols from now on was located at the border with close Gévaudan remained with the crown of France. The Black Prince troops set up a regular monitoring of this new border.
Between 1361 and 1369, an English garrison occupied the châtellenie of La Roque Valzergues close to Saint Saturnin de Lenne.
(Witness of this disturbed time, the rock of the English, " Lo ròc dels Anglés" in occitan language.
This large rock drawn up on the Southern slope of the small valley of the Cazette holds its name for the time when these soldiers who moved in hostile environment, used it as place of sheltered and made safe bivouac).
In 1408, Hugues de Cayrodes tested the field in favour of the marquis de Laromiguière a close relation of his family.
Laromiguiere 1408–1452 In 1425, always during the Hundred Years' War, at the beginning of the reign of the king Charles VII of France, Loîse (Louise) of Laromiguière married which taken the name and armorial bearings of Laromiguière.
In 1452, their daughter, married Bérard Murat de Lestang which engaged for him and its, to keep the armorial bearings of Laromiguière.
Murat de Lestang 1452–1687 Among the lords of Rouergue, the family Murat de Lestang was during the 15th and 16th century, one of the most powerful of the county.
The Pomayrols line:
Gabrielle de Laromiguière: heiress of Pomayrols, Cambon, La roque Sainte Marguerite, and Bozouls in Rouergue as well as Montamat close to Raulhac in Auvergne.
Bérard Murat de Lestang: Rider and chamberlain of the king Louis XI of France.
He was named by the king with the command of the military forterress of Usson in Auvergne.
Gabrielle and Bérard (Bernard) had three children, Antoine, Pierre and Gabriel.
Gabriel Murat de Lestang: Knight Hospitaller of saint John of Jerusalem, that the History indicates under the name of Commander of Pomayrols.
He illustrated itself, with his friends in arms by its bravery at the time of the defense of the fortress of Rhodes besieged by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1522, under the reign of Francis I of France. Of return in France it managed the commandery of Saint Jean of Toulouse.
Antoine Murat de Lestang: Rider of the king Charles VIII of France. Married in 1504, with Marquise, the daughter of Guillaume, Baron of Estaing, without children, he bequeathed Pomayrols to his brother.
Pierre Murat de Lestang: Married during the alive one of Antoine with , heiress of the castle of Labastide - Teulat, they bequeathed Pomayrols to François their son.
François Murat de Lestang: Married in 1541, with Anne, the daughter of Antoine, Lord of Valzergues and Naussac, they bequeathed Pomayrols to Antoine their son.
It was at that time, on 15 February 1568, during the French Wars of Religion, under the reign of the king Charles IX of France, that the castle and the church of the village were plundered and ransacked.
Huguenot revolts, come from Millau, sowed terror through Rouergue.
They were caught of it more particularly to the members clergy and with the goods of the catholic Church. Learning that in the castle of Pomayrols, had been stored harvests but especially of the pieces of furniture and the objects of great values of the churches of Saint-Geniez, they went there to take it by storm, in spite of the walls, the attackers in excess did not have any difficulties of taking the " local Fort Knox".
The castle was plundered and set fire to. The six priests who had the guard of the parochial goods were carried out by the sword.
In same time, learning that moniales were with the monastery of Fage, the plunderers went up there at once.
Alerted this threat, the moniales fled towards Saint-Geniez by the valley, they were refugièrent in the hermitage of Saint-Pierre (near to the current vault of the boxwood).
They would remain there until 17 May 1586, when Saint Geniez d' Olt was again attacked by the troops of the Protestant Reformation, the churches were plundered and set fire to, the hermitage of Saint Pierre located near to the borough suffered the same fate, unhappy young women whom the History will retain under the name of Ladies of Pomayrols, all were massacred.
Antoine Murat de Lestang 2nd of the name: Married on 18 June 1581, Jeanne, the only daughter of Antoine de Bérail the Lord of Paulhac, Caylus, Belpech and other places. Antoine dies "of violent death" on 26 September 1613. (He will be the last Lord to have resided permanently at the castle). He bequeathed Pomayrols to Claude his son.
Claude Murat de Lestang: Gentleman with the room of the king Louis XIII. It married on 14 November 1615, Gabrielle, the daughter of Jean, Sénéchal and Governor of Toulouse, Lord of Valette and other places. They gave birth to three children: Jean, Marie and François. They Bequeathed Pomayrols to Jean.
Jean Murat de Lestang: Married on 20 March 1664, Anne-Marthe, the daughter of Louis, Lord of Brunet, Vicomte of Ambialet, Panat and other places. They had three children: François, Anne and Marie. They bequeathed Pomayrols to François their elder son.
François Murat de Lestang: Without children, it bequeathed Pomayrols to Anne her sister.
On 5 October 1687 Anne Murat de Lestang married Jean Baptist Deroux de la Loubière, thus was completed the line of Murat de Lestang with Pomayrols.
Deroux de la Loubiere 1687 - 1754 In 1754, Jean Baptist DeRoux (2nd of the name) tested the field of Pomayrols in favour of his nephew Jean Baptist Dupont de Ligonnes
Dupont of Ligonnes 1754 - 1789 After the year 1800, Charles Gabriel Dupont de Ligonnès, his son, sold the castle (which for lack of maintenance was in state of advanced decay) to Mr. Aymar de Jabrun.