Menu history of the village

The ancient Rhédae The historic aspect The esoteric aspect

At the end the VIII ème century, a diocese of Rhédésium or Pagus Rhedensis is mentioned in the cartulaire of the Capcir. It is the first time that appears writes the name of that that will be well later the region of Rennes-Le-Château.

In 798, Charlemagne mandates in Septimanie, two judges prelates, the Missi Dominicises, of which one names itself Théodulphe, that mentions a city named Rhedae in their report, as poem, for the same reason as Carcassonne and Narbonne. This quote, bound at the two other cities, allows us to suppose that this city of Rhedae had to, probably, to have the same importance that Carcassonne and Narbonne, either as religious pole or regrouping of population.

The Wisigothses made of Rhédae a military strong place. In 563, following political and strategic wars, the King Franc, Hilperic spread its kingdom until the left strand of Aude called in these times Atax. In fact, the Wisigothses were obliged to reinforce their lines of defenses on the whole right strand of Aude. Consequently, Rhédae took a bigger importance again.

A few to the image of Carcassonne, the city of Rhédae constituted itself of two very distinct parts. A city installed on the tray to the foot of the present Rennes-Le-Château village, and a citadel that seems have been joined to the city by a strong rail. This citadel baptized Castrum Rhédarium was at the site of the present village.

According to historian Louis Fédié, it seems that a second citadel was implanted on the nipple in front of Rennes-Le-Château that one names "the Casteillas" nowadays. Casteillas wanting to say in dialect: "Big Castle."

The city of Rhédae possessed two churches, one dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the other to Saint-Jean-Baptist.The Castrum of Rhédae occupied the whole tray on which is built the present village.The citadel had two entries, one to the East that opened up on the country, the other to the south that put it in immediate communication with the city that spread to its feet. For what is from the door of the East, it was even possible, to the last century, to see a porch again serving Wisigothique of entry in the village. It was destroyed since.

The citadel of Rhédae was divided in three parts whose Latin names were translated in dialect and seem to have lasted. There was the "Castrum Valens" that became the "Castel Balent." In the South there was the "Castrum Salassum" that became the "The Salasso" and the last part was called "Capella" that "The Capello" was called then..

The Castrum Vallens was placed at the East and garnished of fortifications in order to face the possible enemy; The Salasso, was a zone where one could beat the grain and communicate directly with the city, down below by the on-ramp. The Cappelo, as its name makes it think, was one of the places where rose one of the two churches, besides vestiges of a former church were discovered in this place. As all important and main city, Rhédae was defended by different around outposts. We can mention: Cornanel, Roquetaillade, Antugnac and Brenac. Themselves constructed by the Wisigothses..

The invasion of the Saracens comes to put an end to the reign of kings Wisigoths in Septimanie. This invasion changed the destiny of Rhédae completely.Historian Marca affirms that during the occupation of the Saracens, the Archbishops of Narbonne, hunted of their Seat, took refuge in the city of Rhédae. A short time after the passage of Charlemagne's Missi Dominicises, the diocese of Rhédae became a county under the dependence of the Counts of Carcassonne. In 957, the Rhédésium forms a distinct appendage in favor of Odon, son of princess Ermessinde. Their successors were during one century particular counts of the country of Rhédae. This period marks the most vivid phase of this city that was the permanent residence of a sovereign Lord.

To this time, Rhédae almost as plays a role important that Carcassonne. Limoux, was only a modest township that Pierre Des Vaux De Cernay qualifies "Castrum Limosun in terrtorie Redensi". As for Alet, it was the seat of an important abbey surrounded with a Villaria or village. Rhédae radiated in the middle of these different agglomerations.

In 1062, after the death of Raymond II of Rhédae, the county was united again to the one of Carcassonne. After 1067, the sale of the Rhédésium made a county of Barcelonne of it only.The power of the Counts of Barcelona on the Rhédésium was of short length and countess Ermengarde goes back soon in possession of the big fief that she had alienated.. In 1080, Bertrand, son of Pons, that ordered for her the city of Rhédae swore to imitate the conduct of the governor of Carcassonne and to defend the city of Rhédae faithfully. Four years after, Bertrand Aton, son of Ermengarde took oath of fidelity to his mother for the two fortresses of Rhédae, "Pro ambis castris." It is to this time that the name of "Razes" was given to the County.