Lagarde: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Lagarde combines a rich local history with distinctive traces surrounding the church, carillon, fountain and museum.

Renting a holiday apartment in Lagarde can be part of your personal travel planning.

History

The first known mention of Lagarde dates back to 1140; at that time, the place was called “La Garde du Lauragois”. Its development began between 800 and 1000 AD around a feudal motte. In the 12th century, the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem, based in Caignac, built the Fort of Lagarde on the castle motte, surrounded by a double fortification.

Shortly after the fort was destroyed around 1573, a new church was built on its remains. The present-day village church of Lagarde was built in 1864.

Culture

The church tower houses a carillon with 19 bells. The oldest bell in this carillon dates from 1710 and is kept inside the church. The largest carillon bell still in operation weighs 650 kilograms and was cast in 1895.

Paths

Lagarde’s elevated location was once used for surveillance and defence. The historic features of the village also include the “Fontaine du village”, once the only fountain in Lagarde that provided drinking water year-round. The municipal “Chemin de la fontaine” leads to this village fountain.

The “Parc de la mare” was established as a children’s park in the 2000s.

Remembrance

The “Les Sillons de la Mémoire” museum honours the heroes of the two world wars and the Spanish Civil War. It features an exhibition of collection objects and family mementos. The chronological tour includes display cases, explanatory panels and scenes with costumed mannequins.

Visits to the “Les Sillons de la Mémoire” museum are only possible by prior appointment. Visitors are asked to call or send an email at least five days before the desired date. The museum is less than a ten-minute walk from the “LAGARDE – Village” bus stop.

More village pages: Vallègue, Montesquieu-Volvestre, Saint-Élix-le-Château, Beauteville, Labastidette, Sepx, Aurignac, Rieumes.

To the higher-level travel overview: Haute-Garonne.