There
are signs of prehistoric man in the region around Lezignan-Corbieres,
in the caves on Mount Alaric and at Thezan but the first records
of the town date back to the Gallo-Roman. Villa Licianus was a strategic
stronghold on the via Aquitaine that linked Toulouse with the port
of Narbonne. The Wisigoth invasion in the 9th century repopulated
Lezignan-Corbieres which continued to serve as an important regional
cross roads and centre of commerce.
During
the times of the Crusade against the Cathars Guy de Montfort, brother
of Simon, set up base at the Chatellerie at Lezignan which he used
as a centre for controlling the region. After the lighting raids
of the Black Prince during the 100 year war the walls were strengthened
to improve the defensive capabilities of the town.
In 1519 the
town was favoured with a royal crest of three "Fleur de lys"(Lilies)
on a blue shield. For the next three hundred years Lezignan was
a centre for both the military and of commerce. Lezignan spread
well beyond the walls, in 1719 the Comte de Belle-Isle was granted
the Barony of Lezignan. However the 1789 revolution put pay to the
aristocratic title and created the Canton of Lezignan. The walls,
slowly crumbling through disrepair were finally pulled down in 1817
creating what is now the circle of Cours de la Republic, Boulevard
Marx Dormoy, Boulevard Gabriel Peri and then round into Cours Lapeyrouse.
During
the 19th century explosion of steam, Lezignan was the centre of
a small rail network that pushed right up to Mouthemet and St Pierre
in Les Corbieres.
Politically
Lezignan has always been left of centre and this is reflected in
the street names- Boulevard Marx Dormoy, Place Salvadore Allendre.
The Parti Socialiste control the municipal council and the Parti
Communiste, lead by a popular local Doctor do well in elections.
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