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42-561: Pirmin was probably from the area of Narbonne , possibly of Visigothic origin. Many Visigoths fled to Francia after the Arab conquest of Spain at the beginning of the 8th century. From 718 onwards, he was abbot of the monastery Quortolodora in Antwerp ( Austrasia ) and, together with its pupils, served the church inside the broch , Het Steen . (In the 12th century, this church was dedicated to Saint Walpurga .) According to legend, Pirmin blessed

84-573: A Celtic harbor and marketplace at that time, and called its inhabitants the Ναρβαῖοι . In ancient inscriptions the name is sometimes rendered in Latin and sometimes translated into Iberian as Nedhena . Narbonne was established in Gaul by the Roman Republic in 118 BC, as Colonia Narbo Martius , colloquially Narbo , and made into the capital of the newly established province of Gallia Transalpina . It

126-692: A European final in 2001. They play at the Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié (capacity 12,000). They wear orange and black. The Gare de Narbonne railway station offers direct connections to Paris, Barcelona, Toulouse, Marseille and many regional destinations. An extensive local system of buses and routes operated by Citibus.fr allow for easy public transport within Narbonne and surrounding communities. Travellers wishing to connect by plane arrive by airports in nearby Béziers , Carcassonne , Perpignan , Toulouse or Montpellier , as Narbonne does not have an airport. Narbonne

168-526: A pluvio-nival regime of meridional type with high baseflow in summer, 9.8 cubic metres per second (350 cu ft/s) in August at Moussan in the lower alluvial plain not far from the river mouth, against an average of 44.2 cubic metres per second (1,560 cu ft/s). Heavy autumnal rains enable a rapid rise in the flow rate which peaks in February, 78.6 cubic metres per second (2,780 cu ft/s) and

210-548: A series of small communes: Quillan , Espéraza , Couiza , Alet-les-Bains , then Limoux . Downstream of this great medieval city, the Aude flows eastwards. This elbow results from a Stream capture , the Aude having once flowed in the valley of the Hers , indicating a deepening by an ancient hydrology following the uplifting of the Pyrénées. From Carcassonne, the river becomes calmer following

252-504: A slow decline in the 14th century, for a variety of reasons. One was due to a change in the course of the river Aude , which caused increased silting of the navigational access. The river, known as the Atax in ancient times, had always had two main courses which split close to Salelles; one fork going south through Narbonne and then to the sea close to the Clappe Massif, the other heading east to

294-528: A spring that wells up near Kaundorf . The spring’s water is said to have healing properties. A chapel on the site is dedicated to him. After a while Pirmin was invited by count Rohingus to stay at his villa in Thommen, near Sankt Vith in the Ardennes . Pirmin gained the favour of Charles Martel , mayor of the palace of Francia. He was sent to help rebuild Disentis Abbey in what is today Switzerland. In 724, he

336-539: A trading route. This has continued in more recent centuries. Narbonne is linked to the nearby Canal du Midi and the river Aude by the Canal de la Robine , which runs through the centre of town. It is very close to the A9 motorway, which connects Montpellier and Nîmes to Perpignan and, across the border, to Barcelona in Spain. There is also a recently renovated train station which serves

378-611: Is twinned with: Aude (river) The Aude ( French pronunciation: [od] ; Occitan: [ˈawðe] ; Latin Atax [ˈataks] ) is a river of southern France that is 224 kilometres (139 mi) long. Its source is in the Pyrenees mountains then runs to Carcassonne and finally reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Narbonne . The river is navigable by raft or canoe for nearly all of its length. It

420-553: Is a commune in Southern France in the Occitanie region . It lies 849 km (528 mi) from Paris in the Aude department , of which it is a sub-prefecture . It is located about 15 km (9 mi) from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and was historically a prosperous port. From the 14th century it declined following a change in the course of the river Aude . While it

462-871: Is registered as essential to the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The river gave its name to the Aude department . In antiquity, the Aude was called Atax by the Romans. Some authors in antiquity called the river Narbôn (e.g. Polybius ). In 1342 the Roussillon Cartulary of Alart called it the Auda or the Ribera d'Aude . In the Middle Ages the terms Adice , again Atax , Fluvium Atacis , Flumine Atace , Flumen Ataze , and Juxta Aditum fluvium were also used to designate

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504-765: Is supported by the spring snowmelt from the Pyrénées mountains. Exceptional and sudden rainfall, so characteristic of the Mediterranean climate during the autumnal season, can be the cause of devastating floods such as those of 12 and 13 November 1999. The results of this event, which affected the lower valley of the Aude, were catastrophic: 35 victims, hundreds of people evacuated by helicopter or rescued from thousands of homes, businesses, and commercial premises which were more or less damaged, 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) of vineyards more or less ruined, roads, drinking water networks, and sanitation were seriously affected. The scale of

546-545: Is the largest commune in Aude, the capital of the Aude department is the smaller commune of Carcassonne . The source of the town's original name of Narbo is lost in antiquity, and it may have referred to a hillfort from the Iron Age close to the location of the current settlement or its occupants. The earliest known record of the area comes from the Greek Hecataeus of Miletus in the fifth century BC, who identified it as

588-446: The Tet . The Col de la Quillane , elevation 1,713 metres (5,620 ft), marks the boundary of the watershed . The river then flows into the Mediterranean Sea a few kilometres from Narbonne at Grau de Vendres (near Cabanes-de-Fleury ) on the border between the departments of Aude and Hérault . At Carcassonne in the Pyrénées its course is oriented north-south. The Aude then presents

630-508: The 12th century, the court of Ermengarde of Narbonne (reigned 1134 to 1192) presided over one of the cultural centers where the spirit of courtly love was developed. The historian Arthur J. Zuckerman wrote in 1973 the book A Jewish Princedom in Feudal France , presenting the thesis that from the 8th to 10 centuries AD there was a Jewish vassal princedom based in Narbonne, given to the Jews by

672-495: The 5th century, with a community that numbered about 2,000 people in the 12th century. At this time, Narbonne was frequently mentioned in Talmudic works in connection with its scholars. One source, Abraham ibn Daud of Toledo, gives them an importance similar to the exilarchs of Babylon. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the community went through a series of ups and downs before settling into extended decline. Narbonne itself fell into

714-479: The Aude has a nivo-pluvial regime (with a maximum flow in spring linked to snowmelt). Then from Carcassonne where the average flow rate reaches 20.4 cubic metres per second (720 cu ft/s), the system is almost entirely rainfed (The flow at Grau de Vendres where it meets the Mediterranean is around 50 cubic metres per second (1,800 cu ft/s).) The Aude is thus characterized in its lower course by

756-571: The Aude. In all likelihood the current name comes from a gradual evolution of Atax given by Strabo (in his Geography , Book IV), a word borrowed from the Gallic term atacos meaning "spirited" or "very fast". The river has its source in the Massif of Carlit at the Lac d'Aude at an elevation of 2,185 metres (7,169 ft) in the commune of Les Angles (department of Pyrénées-Orientales ) and flows parallel to

798-576: The Canal de la Robine, which was finally linked with the Canal du Midi (then known as the Royal Canal) via the Canal de Jonction in 1776. In the 19th century, the canal system in the south of France had to compete with an expanding rail network, which could ship goods more quickly. The canals kept some importance as they were used to support the flourishing wine trade. Despite its decline from Roman times, Narbonne held on to its vital but limited importance as

840-660: The Carolingian king Pepin as a gift of gratitude for their cooperation in the Frankish conquest of Narbonne from Al-Andalus in the year 759 . This is however controversial, the book having been criticized by other historians. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Narbonne was home to an important Jewish exegetical school, which played a pivotal role in the growth and development of the Zarphatic (Judæo-French) and Shuadit (Judæo-Provençal) languages. Jews had settled in Narbonne from about

882-522: The Roman Catholic population of the city, and is a major tourist attraction. From the sixteenth century, eager to maintain a link to important trade, the people of Narbonne began costly work to the vestiges of the river Aude 's access to the sea so that it would remain navigable to a limited draft vessel and also serve as a link with the Royal Canal. This major undertaking resulted in the construction of

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924-618: The TGV to Spain, Paris and Calais, which in turn connects to the Eurostar. Narbonne is only 10 km from Narbonne Plage (beach), but it is only 2 km from the nearest open water, at La Nautique, although there is no sand, rather pebbles. Narbonne is home to the rugby union team RC Narbonne founded in 1907. It is an historic team in France, Narbonne have twice won the French first division title and reached

966-613: The Visigoths by a local military leader in exchange for support; as a result Roman rule ended in the city. It was subsequently the capital of the Visigothic province of Septimania , the only territory from Gaul to fend off the Frankish thrust after the Battle of Vouille (507). In 531, Frankish king, Childebert I , invaded Septimania and defeated Visigothic king, Amalaric near Narbonne and occupied

1008-596: The characteristics of a mountain stream as it traverses Capcir and feeds several reservoirs ( Matemale , Puyvalador ) before plunging into gorges (those of Saint-Georges are the most scenic) crossing ancient terrain. Starting from Axat , after being joined by the Aiguette on the right bank and the Rébenty on the left bank, the river flows through bands of pre-Pyrénéen limestone (in the Pierre-Lys Gorges) and passes through

1050-418: The city. However, after Childebert's continued invasion to Catalonia failed, Amalaric's successor Theudis was able to reclaim the rich province of Septimania, including Narbonne. Following the loss of Toledo and Barcelona in 711/712, the last two kings of the Visigoths, Agila II and Ardo retreated to Narbonne, where they were able to resist Muslim attacks until 716. For 40 years, from 719 to 759, Narbonne

1092-453: The disaster was due to the combination of two factors: Thunderstorms with rainfall on an unprecedented scale. Up to 620 millimetres (24 in) fell in two days at Lézignan-Corbières , that is to say more than the average annual total. In addition, a strong storm in the Gulf of Lyon led to a rise of 80 centimetres (31 in) in the sea level and, combined with the strong waves and wind, prevented

1134-462: The earliest appearance of the present text of the Apostles' Creed . Narbonne Narbonne ( / n ɑːr ˈ b ɒ n / nar- BON , US also /- ˈ b ɔː n , - ˈ b ʌ n / -⁠ BAWN , -⁠ BUN , French: [naʁbɔn] ; Occitan : Narbona [naɾˈβunɔ] ; Latin : Narbo [ˈna(ː)rboː] ; Late Latin :   Narbona )

1176-466: The etang at Vendres close to the current mouth of the river well to the east of the city. The Romans had improved the navigability of the river by building a dam near Salelles and also by canalising the river as it passed through its marshy delta to the sea (then as now the canal was known as the Robine.) A major flood in 1320 swept the dam away. The Aude river had a long history of overflowing its banks. When it

1218-418: The flow of water already swollen by the torrential rains. Remnants of Hurricane Leslie fed a quasi-stationary cold front over southwestern France, generating heavy thunderstorms and leading to flash flooding in that area. The Aude rose to a height of 7 m (23 ft), its highest level since 1891. Carcassonne received 160–180 mm (6.3–7.1 in) of rainfall within five hours; water level in

1260-586: The foundation of Niederaltaich Abbey , Werner I of what became the Salian dynasty endowed the new abbey at Hornbach . The most important of Pirmin's books is Dicta Abbatis Pirminii, de Singulis Libris Canonicis Scarapsus ("Words of Abbot Pirminius, extracts from the Single Canonical Books"). The book collects quotations from Church Fathers and scriptures, presumably for use by missionaries, or reading during monastic meals. Written between 710-724, it contains

1302-627: The great tectonic furrow which separates the Pyrénées ( Corbières ) from the Massif Central ( Montagne Noire ), receiving from these heights a series of tributaries of which the main ones are the Orbieu on the right bank, and the Argent-Double and the Casse on the left bank. From this point, bordered by the Canal du Midi and sinuous amid vineyards , the Aude enters the broad alluvial plain of Narbonne with

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1344-550: The main stream flowing to the Gulf of Lion and some waters diverted to a network of ancient ponds before flowing into the Mediterranean Sea . The Aude has a catchment area of 6,074 square kilometres (2,345 sq mi) that extends unevenly across six departments: Aude, Pyrénées-Orientales, Ariège , Haute-Garonne , Tarn , and Hérault (Haute-Garonne and Tarn are only affected by the course of tributaries and sub-tributaries of

1386-399: The most important is that the completed cathedral would have required demolishing the city wall. The 14th century also brought the plague and a host of reasons for retaining the 5th-century (pre-Visigothic) walls. Yet the choir, side chapels, sacristy, and courtyard remain intact, and the cathedral, although no longer the seat of a bishop or archbishop, remains the primary place of worship for

1428-413: The navigability from the sea into the étang and then into the river had been a perennial problem) The changes to the long seashore which resulted from the silting up of the series of graus or openings which were interspersed between the islands which made up the shoreline (St. Martin; St. Lucie) had a more serious impact than the change in course of the river. Other causes of decline were the plague and

1470-567: The raid of Edward, the Black Prince , which caused much devastation. The growth of other ports was also a factor. Narbonne Cathedral , dedicated to Saints Justus and Pastor , provides stark evidence of Narbonne's sudden and dramatic change of fortunes when one sees at the rear of the structure the enormously ambitious building programme frozen in time, for the cathedral—still one of the tallest in France—was never finished. The reasons are many, but

1512-423: The river Aude . Surviving members of Julius Caesar 's Legio X Equestris were given lands in the area that today is called Narbonne. Politically, Narbonne gained importance as a competitor to Massilia ( Marseille ). Julius Caesar settled veterans from his 10th Legion there and attempted to develop its port while Marseille was supporting Pompey . Among the products of Narbonne, its rosemary -flower honey

1554-469: The river). Before Carcassonne, the Aude receives tributary streams of short length which often have the characteristics of mountain torrents. Starting from the prefecture of Aude department in the lower valley the Aude river joins with the largest rivers, most of them from the Montagne Noire. From upstream to downstream, the main tributaries of the Aude, longer than 10 km, are: In its upper reaches

1596-419: Was a bustling port, the distance from the coast was approximately 5 to 10 km (3 to 6 mi), but at that time the access to the sea was deep enough only when the river was in full spate which made communication between port and city unreliable. However, goods could easily be transported by land and in shallow barges from the ports (there were several: a main port and forward ports for larger vessels; indeed

1638-752: Was appointed abbot of Mittelzell Abbey on Reichenau Island , which had earlier founded. Later, for political reasons, he was banished to Alsace . In 753, he died in the abbey at Hornbach , where his body is entombed. Pirmin's missionary work mainly took place in the Alsace and the upper area of the Rhine and the Danube . Besides actively preaching and converting, he also founded or reformed many monasteries, such as those at Amorbach , Gengenbach , Murbach , Wissembourg , Marmoutier , Neuweiler , and Reichenau . Pirmin secured endowments from area nobility: Odilo of Bavaria financed

1680-410: Was famous among Romans. Later, the province of Gallia Transalpina was renamed Gallia Narbonensis after the city, which became its capital. Seat of a powerful administration, the city enjoyed economic and architectural expansion. At that point, the city is thought to have had 30,000–50,000 inhabitants, and may have had as many as 100,000. According to Hydatius , in 462 the city was handed over to

1722-665: Was located on the Via Domitia , the first Roman road in Gaul, built at the time of the foundation of the colony, and connecting Italy to Spain . Geographically, Narbonne was therefore located at a very important crossroads because it was situated where the Via Domitia connected to the Via Aquitania , which led toward the Atlantic through Tolosa and Burdigala . In addition, it was crossed by

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1764-754: Was part of the Umayyad Caliphate . The Umayyad governor Al-Samh captured Narbonne from the Kingdom of Visigoths in 719. The Carolingian Pepin the Short conquered Narbonne from the Arabs in 759 after which it became part of the Carolingian Viscounty of Narbonne . He invited prominent Jews from the Caliphate of Baghdad to settle in Narbonne and establish a major Jewish learning center for Western Europe . In

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