Castelnaudary is a commune in the Aude department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in south France. It is in the former province of the Lauragais and famous for cassoulet of which it claims to be the world capital, and of which it is a major producer.

September 1211 saw the first Siege of Castelnaudary during the Cathar (or Albigensian) Crusades. Simon de Montfort was besieged in Castelnaudary by the Count of Toulouse and his ally the Count of Foix. The outcome was inconclusive. July 1220 to March 1221 saw a second siege of Castelnaudary

Today there are no remnants of the Cathar period to see at Castenaudary. En 1623, Louis XIII had the château de Castelnaudary demolished. At the end of the XVII century a prison was built on the site which functioned until 1926. Today the building on the site is known as the Présidial a primary school, prison, and museum, also a small prison chapel chapel Saint-Pierre

Castelnaudary is a market town, and the capital of the territory of Lauragais. The town is located 50 km southeast of Toulouse, about midway along the route from that city to the Mediterranean. This route has been used since at least Roman times, and today carries road, motorway (A61), rail and canal links.

Castelnaudary is the main port of the Canal du Midi to which it owed a period of prosperity in the 17th century when agricultural and manufactured produce became easier to export. The Grand Bassin in the town is at 7ha the largest open area of water in the canal, and is today its major pleasure port.

Inhabitants of Castelnaudry are called Chauriens.

the name Castelnaudary comes from the Occitan Castèlnòu d'Arri, in Latin Castellum Novum Arri, or Arrius' new castle.

Events of 1211.

The Meridional forces (under Count of Toulouse and his allies the Count of Foix and Savaric de Mauléon) were besieging Castelnaudary where Simon de Montfort and his French Crusader army were holed up. The meridional's encampment was strong but did not entirely surround the walls of the town.

Following the advice of Hugues de Lacy, Simon sent some knights, among them Guy de Lévis and Bouchard de Marly, to seek as many reinforcements as possible. Martin d'Algai and his mercenaries rode to reinforce them, but the Count of Foix planned to ambush them near the castle of Saint-Martin, 3 miles from Castelnaudary. Simon got wind of this and sent Guy de Lucy, Simon de Neauphle, Roard de Donges and 40 other knights to their rescue.

The Count of Foix returned to Castelnaudary bringing more troops which, when the battle started, he organised in 3 battallions (heavy cavalry at the centre, lighter cavalry on one wing, infantry on the other). It appears that Foix acted on his own, without support from the other lords.

Outnumbered, Martin d'Algai's mercenaries fled, which incited some of Foix's troops to plunder the baggage train and leave the battlefield while the fierce cavalry battle continued.

Simon, who had seen this, dashed out of Castelnaudary with 60 knights leaving only 5 knights and the infantry to defend the castle against de Mauléon's attacks.

Now the Count of Foix was in danger. His troops fled in disarray.

Severe losses had been inflicted on both sides. 

The following day, Simon left Castelnaudary, leaving only a small garrison.

A few days later, the Meridionals raised the siege.

Both sides claimed victory.

Google map showing Château de Castelnaudary

Some Key Dates

1103. First official mention of a settlement at Castelnaudary.

1211. During the Albigensian Crusade, Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester is besieged in Castelnaudary by the Count of Toulouse and the Count of Foix.

1235. Arrival of the Papal inquisition whose initial attempts to identify and persecute Cathars were unsuccessful due to the solidarity of the townsfolk.

31 October 1355. During the 100 Years War, the town is sacked by the Black Prince who travelling from Bordeaux, ravaged the weaker towns of Gascony and then the Lauragais as far as Narbonne. The town was pillaged and the inhabitants massacred. The town's walls were not rebuilt until 10 years later.

1477. The town becomes the capital of the comté of Lauragais under Louis XI of France.

In January 1477 Louis XI elevated the Lauragais area to the rank of County, which he exchanged against that of Boulogne-sur-Mer (which then belonged to Bertrand VI de la Tour d’Auvergne). Catherine de Medici, his grand-daughter and Queen of France inherited the County of Lauragais.

In 1554 – with the King’s agreement – she made Castelnaudary the seat of the Sénéchaussée (governor’s jurisdiction) for the County. The civil and criminal court of justice – also called Présidial – was then built next to the castle and completed in 1585.