
Last modified: 2025-10-18 by olivier touzeau
Keywords: tarn | penne | feather | 
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Penne (Occitan: Pena, meaning 'feather' - 584 inhabitants, 6,404 ha) is a commune in the Tarn department.
The first reference to a castle in the village of Penne dates from 825
  AD and its first known "señor" was Geoffroi, mentioned in 1096 in
  documents related to Raymond, Count of Toulouse.
  Throughout the Middle Ages, the site of Penne was of military
  strategic importance, being situated on the borders of the provinces
  of Albigeois, Quercy and Rouergue, with its fortress perched atop a
  cliff overlooking the River Aveyron. As such, it was frequently the
  target of attack, most notably during the Albigensian Crusade, a
  twenty-year military campaign (1209–1229) initiated by the King Philip
  II of France and the Roman Catholic Pope Innocent III. The aim of the
  crusade, the elimination of all Cathars in Southern France, coincided
  with the French King's political ambition to annex this area to his
  northern territories.
  The castle remained in use, seeing repeated conflicts, such as the
  Hundred Years War (1337–1453) between England and France, as well as
  the French Wars of Religion (1562–1598) between Protestants and Roman
  Catholics during which it was partly destroyed. It was then abandoned
  for approximately 400 years.
In 1902 the castle was officially declared to be a "monument historique" of France, after which restoration of the ruins began; the work is still ongoing. The remains of the castle include the dungeon, the ramparts and a chapel.
Olivier Touzeau, 14 October 2025
Flag on the castle of Penne - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 14 October 2025
The coat of arms of Penne is blazoned Azure a feather Or, the chief 
  Gules three fleurs de lis Or.
  A flag derived from the coat of arms can sometimes be seen on the
  castle: blue field with three gold fleurs-de-lis and and a feather in
  white: photo (undated),  photo (2018), 
  photo (2024)
Olivier Touzeau, 14 October 2025
 
 
 
 
