The name Auribeau appears for the first time in a papal bull of Adrian IV in 1158 referring to the church of Auribeau. The medieval village was, at that time, in a rocky area above the present village about 500 meters to the south west, its position providing natural geographical advantage. From what still remains of the old village, the XIIth century romanesque chapel was well restored in the 1980s and the small fort, being a square tower within an enclosure, is presently in the course of restoration.

At the beginning of the XIVth century the old village was abandoned in the face of devastation at the hands of roaming gangs, famine and the widespread destitution prevailing in those times. However, one still comes across the name of Auribeau in formal documents dated during the XIVth century (e.g. 1313, 1319, 1354 and other later dates) relating to the transfer of land and other property rights, involving both lay and ecclesiastical dignitaries, showing evidence of a well ordered financial system at the time.

(For an enlargement click on the photograph!)

  view towards the old village                   the fort: tower and enclosure               remains of the old village