Who are we ?
The Medieval and Popular Academy of Termes, created in 2012, is the result of the merger of two associations: Les amis de la Tour de Termes and Les Lions de Termes. With a cultural and socio-educational vocation, the association aims to:
The artistic and cultural animation of the medieval sites of Termes d'Armagnac, the Tower and the castle mound of Monterran, designed as a tool for promoting and preserving medieval and Occitan heritage. But also participation in multi-period public events at other sites. This takes the form of medieval workshops around crafts, theater, dance, and larger-scale events including medieval festivals.
To bring together around the two historic sites of Termes, the greatest number of different people wishing to take part in an approach of transmitting knowledge and know-how of medieval arts including crafts, culture and history of the Late Middle Ages.
To establish a strong presence in the region and contribute to its influence as one of the three major heritage sites in the tourist region of Pays Val d'Adour. The association is developing partnerships with both public and private sectors, including cultural associations, local artisans and traders, with the aim of offering a shared and advantageous service and defending the region and its iconic products.
All activities are based on the principles, philosophy and methods of Popular Education, based on the values of accessibility, sharing and tolerance.
The creation of a craftsmen's village in the shaded park of the Tower
The association is working towards the emergence of a true village of artisans working according to medieval techniques; all based on serious historical research work consistent with the medieval period of the Château de Termes. Metallurgy was chosen as the starting point with the creation of a forge workshop begun in 2019. This new route must be able to offer activities for all audiences, from discovery courses to training, and also to feed the museum's collections with its productions. The village will thus allow the multiplication of activities and will complement the site's permanent offering during school holidays.
The development of a medieval garden near the church of Saint-Pierre
The garden held an important place in the medieval world. Essential for medicine and food, it was also a place of meditation and strolling in religious and seigniorial spaces. The medieval garden project is the subject of a truly long-term reflection. In line with current issues, the project aims to propose local production following medieval techniques, promoting the many forgotten plants of this period. This will also make it possible to reconstruct life at the height of the castle's prosperity in the most complete and faithful way possible.
The preservation of the Monterran castle mound
A typical construction of the feudal system, the motte-and-bailey, the ancestor of fortified castles, is an artificial or semi-artificial mound of earth on which rests a keep, in most cases made of wood. This Termois heritage is composed of a double motte with very imposing dimensions compared to other examples that have come down to us. This is partly explained by the rare fact that the stone Saint-Barthélemy church alone occupies the smaller of the two mottes. In charge of this exceptional site, the association is duty-bound to preserve it and raise awareness of this type of construction, which is still very little known to the general public. With this in mind, students from the Riscle agricultural high school came in March 2021 to clear the motte-and-bailey in order to enhance it and create an educational trail on the PR1 hiking trail.
Development projects
Each of the projects is developed on the principle of accessibility to all audiences as well as the desire to present the different aspects of medieval culture and arouse curiosity for this heritage.
The museography of the dungeon
The aim of the reconstruction section is to recreate everyday objects and bring the dungeon rooms back to life. With a view to transmitting the know-how of medieval arts, the reconstruction section of the museum is also enriched by objects created using traditional techniques by the association or the artisans who run the site, such as cupboard fittings, pottery, costumes, and certain pieces of armor.
The establishment of a medieval equestrian jousting stadium
Through this space, the association aims to place the horse at the heart of its development project. An opportunity to develop archaeological experiments around medieval equestrian equipment (farriery), the stadium is part of the promotion of this heritage and the transmission of ancestral know-how related to horses.
It would also be a place dedicated to artistic development for local stakeholders, a stage for local artists offering all types of events aimed at all audiences.
SOME FIGURES
La Tour de Termes welcomes:
nearly 8,000 visitors per year
4,000 people welcomed for all activities
100 members, including around forty active members
2 full-time employees
2 civic service volunteer missions
1 theater section
1 historical reenactment section (specializing in medieval crafts)
Social Media
4.3K followers on Facebook
1.4K followers on Instagram