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 Town and Village diversity > Penne-d'Agenais
Although ideally located for defence (pen is a Celtic word for hill), the town was besieged in turn by Simon de Montfort (father of the English reformer) in 1212, then during the Hundred Years War and again during the Wars of Religion.
The climb to Peyragude ('sharp rock' in Occitan) is via a labyrinth of staircase alleys, 13th and 14th-century houses, and changing viewpoints. The basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Peyragude was built in Neo-Byzantine style (1897-1948) rather like a small- scale model Sacré Cœur in Paris. There are pilgrimages here each 15 August.
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:A.G.-CG47)
