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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The two terminals at Betz-le-Château are historical remains linked to the Abbey of Marmoutier, a major religious institution founded in the fourth century near Tours. According to the sources, these terminals delineated a property given to the Abbey by Charlemagne, although their precise dating is not explicitly mentioned. Their presence attests to the extent of the monastic lands in the Carolingian period, when abbeys played a central role in the territorial and economic organization.

One of the two pillars retains traces of emblems today very eroded, suggesting an ancient origin and a symbolic or legal function. These marks, although difficult to interpret, might evoke weapons or signs of ownership typical of acts of royal donation. Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 17 September 1937, these terminals are now owned by the municipality of Betz-le-Château. Their approximate location, noted as "passable" (level 5/10), is located on a vicinal path linking Ligueil to Châtillon-sur-Indre.

The historical context of these pillars is part of a period when abbeys, like Marmoutier, received land donations from the Carolingian sovereigns to establish their spiritual and temporal power. These donations allowed monasteries to develop agricultural, artisanal and even judicial activities, while structuring the territory around dependency networks. The pillars were then used to materialize these limits, avoiding conflicts between lords or neighbouring communities. Their preservation until today offers a rare testimony of these medieval practices in Touraine.

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