Last modified: 2025-11-01 by olivier touzeau
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![[Flag]](../images/f/fr-48-mz.gif)
Flag of Le Malzieu-Ville - Images by Olivier Touzeau, 27 October 2025
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Le Malzieu-Ville (743 inhabitants, 780 ha) is a commune in the Lozère department. It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Association.
While the oldest traces of settlement date back to the Neolithic period, the origins of Malzieu date back to the Roman conquest of Gaul. The first written document is a charter from 811 naming a certain Bertold as lord and viguier of the town.
Around the 11th century, the monks of the Abbey of St. Gilles founded
two priories: St. Hippolyte in Malzieu and St. Laurent in Verdezun. The fortified walls around the town were built in the 14th century due to the unrest caused by the Hundred Years' War. Thus, Malzieu became a veritable stronghold with its ramparts, patrol path, defensive towers, monumental gates, keep, and more
The capital of the Barony of Mercoeur, the medieval town was directly under the royal authority and the Parliament of Paris, while the rest of Gévaudan fell under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Mende and the Parliament of Toulouse. The Consulate saw the election of three consuls representing the "nobly living" bourgeoisie, merchants, and tradespeople.
The Wars of Religion marked the 16th century with the capture of the city. Numerous massacres and executions took place, as well as the destruction of the church by the Protestants in 1573.
The 17th century saw the creation of the Brotherhood of the White Penitents in the current town hall and Ursuline convent within the medieval village. These two institutions would mark the life and history of Le Malzieu for many years. Le Malzieu would become a stopping place for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela from Le Puy-en-Velay, crossing the Truyère at the Notre-Dame Bridge to head for Aubrac.
Among the great trials of Malzieu and its region is the sad story of the Beast of Gévaudan, which gripped everyone from 1764 to 1767 and continues to fascinate authors and the general public.
During the last world war of 1939-1945, this corner of Margeride welcomed several Jewish families destined for deportation to Nazi camps.
Olivier Touzeau, 27 October 2025
The arms are blazoned:
Vert a tower Argent, masonned, port and windows of Sable, the chief
Azure charged with an uncial letter M Or, a canton Argent with a
patriarchal cross gules.
The flag flown on the castle's tower is horizontally divided red over
blue and swallow-tailed with a yellow vertical bar at the hoist: photo (2024), photo (2024), photo (undated), photo (2021), photo (2020), photo (2019).
Olivier Touzeau, 27 October 2025