Revel, Haute-Garonne
Encyclopedia
Revel is a commune
in the Haute-Garonne
department in southwestern France
.
. Other notable nearby towns are Carcassonne
and Castelnaudary
to the south, Castres
to the east, and Albi to the northeast.
Another distinctive building is the large, Gothic-style town church of Notre-Dame, just south of the central square.
Just south of Revel, where the land begins to slope upwards into the Montagne Noire
regional park, is the Lac de Saint-Ferréol, a man-made lake dating from the seventeenth century which is linked to the Canal du Midi
, and for some time has been enjoyed by local residents and tourists as a place for walking, sunbathing, picnicking etc. A number of hotels, cafés, restaurants and private homes can be found close to the north shore of the lake.
, which has been manufactured in the town since the 18th century. Cabinet-making is a specialty of the area, and many cabinet makers are trained at the local lycée, which specialises in technical training, and admits pupils from across the region on a residential (boarding) basis during the week. Furniture shops and warehouses are a feature of Revel and the surrounding area.
Revel’s lycée is located on the east side of the town, on the Route de Sorèze, and is named after Vincent Auriol
(1884-1966), the socialist politician who was born in the town and who was the first President of the Fourth Republic
of France
between 1947 and 1954.
. A coach service between Revel and Toulouse runs on an infrequent basis.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France named after the Garonne river. Its main city is Toulouse.-History:Haute-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc.The...
department in southwestern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Location
Revel is situated about 35 miles (54 kilometres) east of ToulouseToulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
. Other notable nearby towns are Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
and Castelnaudary
Castelnaudary
Castelnaudary is a commune in the Aude department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in south France. It is in the former province of the Lauragais and famous for cassoulet of which it claims to be the world capital, and of which it is a major producer....
to the south, Castres
Castres
Castres is a commune, and arrondissement capital in the Tarn department and Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It lies in the former French province of Languedoc....
to the east, and Albi to the northeast.
Population
Sights
The most notable physical feature of Revel is its central square, which is partially covered by a 14th century roof, supported by wooden pillars and topped by a distinctive bell-tower. Every Saturday morning, a market is held in the square and surrounding streets in which a variety of goods, but especially food and clothing, is on sale.Another distinctive building is the large, Gothic-style town church of Notre-Dame, just south of the central square.
Just south of Revel, where the land begins to slope upwards into the Montagne Noire
Montagne Noire
* Not to be confused with the Montagnes Noires in Brittany.The Montagne Noire is a mountain range in central southern France. It is located at the southwestern end of the Massif Central in the border area of the Tarn, Hérault and Aude departments...
regional park, is the Lac de Saint-Ferréol, a man-made lake dating from the seventeenth century which is linked to the Canal du Midi
Canal du Midi
The is a long canal in Southern France . The canal connects the Garonne River to the on the Mediterranean and along with the Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau...
, and for some time has been enjoyed by local residents and tourists as a place for walking, sunbathing, picnicking etc. A number of hotels, cafés, restaurants and private homes can be found close to the north shore of the lake.
Economy
Revel is arguably best known for two products: furniture, and a mint liqueur named Get 27Get 27
thumb|Bottle of Get 27.Get 27 is a liquor with mint used as an apéritif or in cocktails. It was created by Jean and Pierre Get in 1796. It has been produced since 1995 in Beaucaire in the south of France by Casanis Corporation, a subsidiary of Bacardi Group. It has also been produced in Gémenos. It...
, which has been manufactured in the town since the 18th century. Cabinet-making is a specialty of the area, and many cabinet makers are trained at the local lycée, which specialises in technical training, and admits pupils from across the region on a residential (boarding) basis during the week. Furniture shops and warehouses are a feature of Revel and the surrounding area.
Revel’s lycée is located on the east side of the town, on the Route de Sorèze, and is named after Vincent Auriol
Vincent Auriol
Vincent Jules Auriol was a French politician who served as the first President of the Fourth Republic from 1947 to 1954. He also served as interim President of the Provisional Government from November to December 1946, making him one of only three people who were heads of state of the French...
(1884-1966), the socialist politician who was born in the town and who was the first President of the Fourth Republic
Fourth Republic
Fourth Republic may refer to:* French Fourth Republic * Fourth Republic of the Philippines * Fourth Republic of South Korea * The Fourth Republic of Niger...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
between 1947 and 1954.
Transportation
Public transport to and from Revel is sparse. At one time, Revel was linked to Toulouse by rail, but the only remnant of this facility is the derelict railway station to the north-west of the town. The nearest town with a rail link (to Toulouse or the south coast) is CastelnaudaryCastelnaudary
Castelnaudary is a commune in the Aude department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in south France. It is in the former province of the Lauragais and famous for cassoulet of which it claims to be the world capital, and of which it is a major producer....
. A coach service between Revel and Toulouse runs on an infrequent basis.