During the Albi siege, this town was under the protection of Lady Guiraude. Her cavaliers under siege held the attackers back from the ramparts, and refused to give up the Cathars living in the town. Eventually, all were captured and executed, and Lady Guiraude was thrown down a well, and stoned. Welcome to Lavaur!
In the 15th and 16th centuries, Lavaur became the land of plenty, thanks to pastel production. The cathedral Saint-Alain was built, and the legend goes that a Protestant was condemned to ring its bell every hour to prove that he had not escaped. He built a wooden effigy to do the job, and fled. To this day, a wooden man rings the cathedral bell.
