Foreign Perspectives

Once upon a time…

Twenty-two centuries ago, the Romans completed the conquest of Narbonne. They constructed the Roman road of Aquitaine, which led to Montl¿rrand and to the doorstep of Naurouze. Along the Mediterranean coast, they built the Domitrienne Road towards the Pyr¿n¿es Orientales and which led to the first conquest of Roussillon. Everywhere that there were strategic grounds, they established military camps, for example Ruscino between Perpignan and Canet Plage, at the same time camp and town (there are numerous relics); another example mid-way between Estagel and Maury, on the border of the RN117: Mas Camps, military camp, commanding a vast plain in the Agly Valley (relics, Roman mosaic).

From the 12th century, the Templars arrived in Roussillon, taking the side of the King of Majorca. The Roussillon Templars depended on the Province of Aragon, but they were also autonomous. At the end of the 13th century, they had in Roussillon, two large commands: Perpignan and Mas Deu, near to Vinca. They also had in Roussillon more than 120 chateaux and domains. In the Roussillon, you must also include Fenouill¿des, which as vassals depended both on the Kingdom of Majorca and the Kingdom of France. The Templars had therefore the goods in all the cantons of the Pyr¿n¿es-Orientale. Notably mentioning the castle of Prugnagnes and associated domains, the castle of Sournia and associated domains and then the ancient roman camp which was on the large plain and valley of Agly and where they had chosen to stay in a very large manor house (“maison forte”), Mas Camps.

The two large commands of Perpignan and Mas Deu, had as chiefs at the end of the 13th century and start of the 14th Guilaume d’Ollers (for Perpignan) which was also chancellor and prime minister of the King of Majorca, and Raymond of Guardia (or Saguardia) for Mas Deu, supervising one part of the Templar province.

Or in short, this place has been around for a while. We’ve also some info of the last of the Camps family who lived here (we have his WW1 medals and some other stuff).

There’s more, but as it’s getting late my translation skills got too ropey towards the end, so more anon.