Its origins

The area was first occupied by a Celtic tribe ‘Cambolectri Atlantici’, then by the Romans who built a temple to Cèrés Eleusis (Goddess of fertility and the harvest), which remained until the 7th century. Later, according to legend, Charlemagne laid the foundations of the church of Saint Rémi beside the spring of that name. Being outside the surrounding wall it was gradually allowed to lapse by the Prior of the St Pons de Thomiéres abbey, to the benefit of the Notre-Dame de Saint Pons de Thomières church inside the village.

The county of Lautrec

In medieval times Lautrec became famous amongst important aristocratic families who raised its stature within the important county of Albi and so fortified it as to make it the principle place of refuge for the area.
Founded in 940, the county of Lautrec occupied 28000 hectares within the county of Albi and included 23 communities; it was beholden to the Counts of Toulouse, until permitted greater autonomy in the 10th century in the face of the Norman invasion. Sicard I was the first Viscount of Lautrec.
A new dynasty was born to reign over the rich agricultural area and in 1196 the families of the Viscount of Lautrec and the Count of Toulouse were united through the marriage of Alix, the daughter of Sicard V, and Baudoin, son of Raymond V, and the establishment of the celebrated Toulouse-Lautrec family.
The family dominated the region for several centuries until the eve of the Revolution when Philippe de Noailles - Marquis d’Ambres, Viscount of Lautrec and Lord-Lieutenant for the Guyenne province – gave up all his rights to the County of Lautrec, which was subsequently abolished by the General Council on August 4th 1789. Marshall Pierre-Joseph de Toulouse-Lautrec, who lived in the Chateau de Montfa, was briefly a deputy of the General Council for the Sénéchaussée de Castres until emigrating in 1790.

The painter " Henri of Toulouse Lautrec "
LAUTREC, historic Cradle of the family TOULOUSE-LAUTREC

Lautrec is commonly associated with the painter’s family. He was descended from a noble Languedoc line and was born in Albi in 1864 and died in Chateau de Malromé in the Gironde in 1901.  His family also owned the castle of Montfa, today in ruins, where the father of the painter was born  (6 km from Lautrec). In the Middle Ages, the community of Montfa was situated on the territory of the Viscounty of Lautrec. The dynasty of Toulouse - Lautrec was born in the XIIth century when Alix, the daughter of Sicard Viscount of Lautrec married Baudoin, the son of Raymond V, illustrious Count of Toulouse. According to tradition, this marriage celebrated in 1196 gave birth to the prestigious line of Toulouse - Lautrec. The Viscounts of Lautrec were powerful Lords, vassals of the Counts of Toulouse. They dominated the Viscounty during almost three centuries (XIIth - XIVth) taking advantage of a growing autonomy, hoisting Lautrec to the rank of administrative centre of Viscounty endowed with powerful fortifications. From Philippe IV le Bel's administration, " Iron king ", They lost a part of their possessions to the benefit of several families of which the King of France. In 1789, when the revolution erupted, the marquess of Ambrès also Viscount of Noailles and Duke de Mouchy claimed the title of "the only Viscount of Lautrec ". As for Pierre - Joseph of Toulouse - Lautrec, Brigadier, living in the castle of Montfa, he was elected in March, 1789 delegated in the General States to represent the nobility of Sénéchaussée of Castres. He emigrated in 1790.

Useful link:

Visit the Toulouse Lautrec museum of Albi – INFORMATION