Mende and Urbain V

Guillaume de Grimoard was born 1310 in the Château de Grizac, sited on the commune of Bédoues.

Mende

Eldest son of the Sieur de Grimoard and of Amphélise de Montferrand, he studied law, and proved to be a brilliant student, before becoming Saint Benoît at the Monastier monastery.

Abbott of Saint Victor in Marseille, then Bishop of Mende, he became Pope under the name of Urbain V in 1362. He marked his pontificate significantly by bringing the Holy Seat back to Rome.

He restored the universities to Montpellier, Toulouse, and Paris, and created several university colleges where he left bursaries to fund students’ studies.

He enriched significantly the Languedoc-Roussillon region by the building of the Cathedral in Mende, and of colleges in Quézac and Bédoues.

To thank him, King Charles V would exempt the lordship of Grizac from all taxes, transforming into a tax-free enclave, a privilege that would endure until the 18th century. In 1870 he would become the only Pope to be awarded a beatification.