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Origin and history

The Carmelite convent of Castelnaudary, founded between the 13th and 14th centuries, is a religious building marked by a turbulent history. Although sources mentioned an installation of the Carmelites as early as 1248-1267, no official documents attested to them until 1334. The convent, including a church with eight side chapels, a cloister and houses, was destroyed during the fire of the city by the Black Prince in 1355. After its reconstruction, it underwent major changes, including the addition of a church for the Grey Penitents in 1611.

After the Revolution, the Carmelite church was razed, while the Grey Penitent church became houses. Conventual buildings were reused, such as the Fourcade Hotel, and houses replaced the shops in 1796. Today, only remains of the cloister remain, including two capitals and four white marble arcades, listed as historical monuments in 1948. These elements recall the architectural and spiritual importance of the site.

The convent illustrates the urban evolution of Castelnaudary, between destruction and rehabilitation. Its history also reflects the religious and political upheavals of the region, from the Middle Ages to the Revolution. The preserved remains, though fragmentary, offer a glimpse of Southern Gothic art and monastic life in Languedoc.

The location of the convent, in the present department of Aude, makes it a witness of Occitan history. Its inscription in 1948 underscores its heritage value, despite the transformations experienced over the centuries. The carved capitals, preserved in the cloister, remain remarkable examples of the local medieval craftsmanship.

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