The history of Mas Camps from Roman times

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The Romans completed their conquest of Narbonne around 200BC. They constructed the Roman road of Aquitaine which led to Montlérrand and to the doorstep of Naurouze. Along the Mediterranean coast, they built the Domitrienne Road towards the Pyrénées Orientales, which led to the first conquest of Roussillon. In each stragegic position, they established military camps such as Ruscino (between Perpignan and Canet Plage) and Mas del Camps (mid-way between Estagel and Maury on the RN117 in the Agly Valley), both of which have relics from that era.

From the 12^th century, the Knights Templar arrived in Roussillon, taking the side of the King of Majorca. Although they depended on the Province of Aragon, they were also autonomous. By the end of the 13^th century, they had established two large commands in Roussillon: Perpignan and Mas Deu (near Vinça) including more than 120 chateaux and domains. As part of Roussillon you must also include the Fenouillèdes which, as vassals, depended on the Kingdoms of Majorca and France. The Templars had therefore the goods from all of the cantons of the Pyrenees-Oriental, notably including the castles of Prugnagnes and Sournia and the manor house ("maison forte") Mas Camps.

The two large commands of Perpignan and Mas Deu, had as chiefs at the end of the 13^th century and start of the 14^th 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:

• for Perpignan, everything seen from the coast and Salanque.

• for Mas Deu, everything that is mountainous (Agly Valley, the river, the Albères). Mas Deu was partial to Mas Camps (the wine of Estagel and of Maury were already very numerous).

At the end of 1307, the opening of the trial of the Templars (October 13^th, 1307), arrested the Templars in France. As with the other sovereigns, the King of Majorca, Jacques the 1^st, had been invited by the King of France Philippe le Bel to take action to arrest the Templars in his kingdom. He repelled all violence and pushed the Templars to Evêque d’Elne, which had to push all enquiries. There was nothing to do but pass the sentence. The order of Templars was suppressed in april 1314 and their properties passed to the Hospitaliers of St Jean of Jerusalem (now called the Knights of Malta).

References: Revue « Le Publicateur de la Société Agricole, Scientifique, des Pyrénées Orientales » 19e siècle, plusieurs décades de publications, de ce qui concerne les Templiers du Roussillon.

(Archives département des Pyrénées Orientales, Collections du Publicateur a la Bibliothèque Municipale, nombreuses études de M. Lleres, Secrétaire Général des Sociétés).

Mas Camps today...

... is an auberge offering you the opportunity to the same magnificent views that the Romans looked upon and to sample the present day offerings of the vineyards that added to the attractiveness of the mas to the Templars whilst still remaining close to the present day attractions of the region. Each of our rooms is uniquely decorated with the overall theme taken from the wines of the region, all with views overlooking the vineyards or mountains with the Cathar castle of Queribus visible from the front of the property.

In our restaurant, you can sample meals reflecting the international nature of our clientele.

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