Last modified: 2025-10-18 by olivier touzeau
Keywords: tarn-et-garonne | auvillar |
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Auvillar (909 inhabitants, 1,560 ha) is a commune in the department of
Tarn-et-Garonne and the Occitanie region, situated on the banks of the
Garonne river. Since 1994, Auvillar has been a member of Les Plus
Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France)
Association.
The history of Auvillar is very ancient, and the town was already
important in the 11th century. It was indeed the capital of a
viscounty distinct from that of Lomagne. Its name appears in documents
from this period: Altivillaris (Autvilar in old Occitan), then Castrum
altivilaris.
The discovery of Roman coins and statuettes suggests that the site was
inhabited during the Roman period.
It is likely that the Port was inhabited before the construction of
the upper town. The Port Chapel dates from the Carolingian period.
After being demolished, it was rebuilt in the 14th century under the
orders of Pope Clement V.
Haultvillar appeared at the end of the 14th century. The name
Altavilla appears in the 15th century, and is due to Aimeric de
Peyrac. The Viscounty of Altavilarís, which belonged to a son of the
King of France, Philip the Fair, in 1304, was given to the family of
Bertrand de Goth, the future Pope. Bertrand made several visits to
Auvillar and requested the reconstruction of the old church.
Auvillar Castle subjected the city to many conflicts in the region,
from the Crusade against the Albigensians, the Hundred Years' War, the
wars of religion and the Catholic League. The fortress was destroyed
in 1572.
Auvillar became attached to the crown of France after the crowning of
Henri IV in 1589.
From the seventeenth to the nineteenth century Auvillar owed its prosperity to two industries, pottery (the plant was located at a place called Lance), and the preparation of pens of goose feathers used in calligraphy. Auvillar had a population of up to 2,300 in 1830.
Olivier Touzeau, 14 October 2025
Flagoid observed in Auvillar - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 14 October 2025
An azure coat of arms with three staves was given to Auvillar by d'Hozier in 1696 when the local coat of arms was registered. But the town already had a traditional coat of arms, with two towers each surmounted by three spires. However, the representation was most often incorrect, with gules towers on an azure background, in contradiction with heraldic rules. The word "Alta Villa" appears on this traditional shield. In 2017, the coat of arms was corrected with the two towers, one gold and the other silver, on a gules background.
It is the original incorrect version that appears on the metal vexilloid that adorns the large circular grain market, one of the village's main monuments.
Pictures: photo (2025), photo (2023).
Olivier Touzeau, 14 October 2025