Argelès’ Renaissance History

1618-1648 – Argelès during the Thirty Years War

During the Thirty Years' War" when France’s Louis XIII battled against Habsburgs of Germany and King Philip IV of Spain, the French army crossed from their fortress at Sales into Roussillon to take back land including Argelès, but then a Spanish counter-attack booted the French back out and inflicted serious damage on towns such as Argelès.

But the French managed to take Argelès back on 9 June 1641 when, as the French approached, the residents of Argelès rebelled against the Spanish garrison and opened the gates to the French. Understanding the strategic importance of Argelès due to its ease of access for supply routes to Perpignan, the Duke of Arpajon made it the headquarters for the French army.

In early 1642, the Spanish governor, had one more try at taking Argelès back, but after three days of fierce fighting, the Spanish surrendered to the French and Catalans at a cost of over 60 homes destroyed.

These military confrontations caused widespread suffering in the Argelès region. Villages in Roussillon and the Vallespir were affected by famine and plague, compounded by the heavy taxation imposed during the war. By January 1642, entire towns were ravaged. In Argelès alone, 63 homes were destroyed and 22 were abandoned.

1650 – Building of the Canal d’Arrosage

This massive infrastructure project, which took decades to complete, took water from the Tech River and diverted it into smaller channels to irrigate agricultural land across the local area including Argelès.

Over the centuries, the canal proved to be a lifeline for farmers allowing them to cultivate crops and orchards even during dry spells. Its role in supporting local agriculture continues even today as it continues to supply water to vineyards, orchards and fields over three hundred years later.

1652 – Plague arrives to Argelès

A devastating plague claimed many lives to Argelès and a miraculous end to the epidemic was attributed to Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian on 27 September 1652, the day of their feast, which is still celebrated in Argelès today. See the Churches section of the website for more information.

1659 – The Treaty of the Pyrenees brings peace to Argelès

Skirmishing and fighting with Spain continued all the way up 1659 when the Treaty of the Pyrenees was finally signed on 7 November 1659 and France officially declared that Roussillon was now part of France, though towns like Argelès were only officially agreed on 1 June 1660 after a final conference in Ceret to agree on border towns, such as Argelès.

17th and 18th Centuries – Argelès embraces smuggling

Argelès and Banyuls became particularly well known for smuggling salt. Salt was used in large quantities to preserve food and for livestock, but there was a famous salt known as the “gabelle”, which was only abolished in 1946. So, smugglers would smuggle salt through the mountains and by boat, then store the contraband salt in Argelès.

1789 – Argelès during the French Revolution

From 1789 onwards, Argelès underwent profound political and economic transformation, but at the cost of significant hardships for its residents.

The start of the French Revolution in Argelès was heralded when Argelès submitted a ‘List of Greavances’ to the state demanding a reduction in taxes and forcing local Argelès men as forced labour, known as corvées, for road and bridge maintenance, in particular the Camí Reial (the royal road), which served as the main route for military and civilian convoys heading to Collioure and Spain.

These demands were ignored and so local farmers from Argelès revolted and refused to continue performing forced labour on roads and bridges and several landowners were arrested for inciting rebellion.

With its strategic location, Argelès became the seat of a Canton, a new administrative division established after the Revolution, in December 1790. Then, the revolutionary government confiscated property and sold it off, including the Abbey of Saint-Génis des Fontaines, and melted down all of Argelès church bells in 1793 for smelting cannons.

This led to over 100 families leaving Argelès in just four years, so that Argelès became less populated and more impoverished by the end of the Revolution.

1793 – France declares war on Spain

On 12 April 1793, the National Convention declared war on Spain, which resulted in the Spanish army invading Roussillon on 17 May 1793 and occupied and looted Argelès for an extended time. Yet, even when France managed to drive the Spanish out, the revolutionary government labelled Argelès a “contaminated commune” and not to be trusted.

Despite all of this, it was this time that Argelès, a pariah in France, began to quietly rebuild and grow and life gradually went back to normal.

1808-1814 Napoleon’s France invades Spain

Napoleon invaded Spain during the Peninsular War and, as a result, Argelès and the surrounding area was home to many Napoleonic troops.