HISTORY

rom the existence of caves near St Lizier it can be supposed that prehistoric man inhabited the area. As for the history of the city, it can be divided into three periods of unequal length: the gallo-roman era, the bishopric and the cantonal seat.

The gallo-roman civitas
From 121 BC the roman dominion extended to the Volques of Toulouse and their vassals, which included the Consorani who populated the Couserans (Couserans comes from Consorani). The Couserans was attached to the Comminges, which belonged to the Aquitaine.

At the end of the third century, under Dioclecien and Constantin, the territory of the Consorani formed, with 8 other towns, the province of Novempopulania. Like the Gaule, the Couserans enjoyed the Pax Romana.

Vestiges of this era were reused in medieval constructions. Fear of invasions propelled the construction of the 750 metres of ramparts which still encircle the town.

A Bishopric from 350 to 1801
The first bishop of the Couserans was Saint Valier, whose tombe was identified in the 6th century. The saint appeared intact, lying on a bed of laurel leaves. These leaves and some fragments of his clothing became relics to which numerous miracles were attributed.

It was the 6th century bishop Glycerius who was canonised as Saint Lizier. Thanks to his success in combating rabies, mental illness and (anemia?) in children, his cult was widespread throughout the region.

A religious renewal at the end of the 11th century resulted in the beginning of construction of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Sède and the church of St. Lizier.

If there were individual cathars among the inhabitants of the Couserans, the whole of the region was not won over by the new doctrine.

With its relics of a saint venerated beyond the town, St Lizier became a stop on a secondary pilgrimage route to Compostelle. A brotherhood of St. James formed there in 1533. Under the porchway of the cathedral, a door with a lintel displaying a scallop shell gave access to a chapel dedicated to the saint.

The bishop Hector of Ossun (16th century) had to take up arms to confront protestantism. He was the originator of the construction of the hospital.

With pagan rites still widely practiced in the diocese in the 17th century, Bishop Bernard Coignet decided to undertake reforms, such as the opening of a seminary, the organisation of retreats, cathechism, and processions. He had the hospital (Hotel-Dieu) enlarged and built a sumptuous residence: the Palais des Evêques.

The pontificate that left the greatest mark on the diocese was that of Joseph de St André de Marnays de Vercel who devoted himself to helping the sick. He had the hospital reconstructed with a pharmacy.

It was during the revolutionary period that the bishopric was suppressed, depriving St-Lizier of part of its activity and prestige. In 1910 the Bishop of Pamiers became responsible for the Couserans and Mirepoix.

The cantonal seat
To compensate for the loss of the bishopric, St-Lizier hoped to become the seat of the canton along with St-Girons as the two towns were practically one, it was said in those days. Disappointment: the Couserans was joined with the comté of Foix to form the department of Ariège and St-Girons was chosen.