It is an outersuburb of the city ofToulouse, even though it is not in the region ofToulouse Métropole, which it has declined to join. It lies southwest of Toulouse and is the largest component of the intercommunality ofLe Muretain Agglo.
The commune is established on the firstterrace of the Garonne [fr] on its left bank. Its right bank is overhung by a steep slope which deeply cut themolasse of theTertiary era. It has an area of 5,784 hectares (14,290 acres) and an altitude ranging from 152 to 305 metres (499 to 1,001 ft).[3]
Muret is located on theGaronne river at itsconfluence with theLouge, which flows northeast through the commune. The Garonne flows north through the commune and forms part of its northern border. TheOusseau [fr]tributary of theTouch is also in the commune, and theCanal de Saint-Martory [fr].
Muret has an oceanictemperate climate, withMediterranean and continental influences, characterised by a hot, dry summer, mild winter and a spring marked by heavy rains and severe thunderstorms. The prevailingwinds are, in order of importance, the west wind (usually bringing moisture from theAtlantic Ocean), the southeast wind (also called theVent d'autan [fr], a rather hot, dry wind) and the north, which is much less frequent and generally a cold and dry wind (bringing air from cold anticyclonic masses in NorthernEurope).[4]
Muret has averaged 24 days of extreme heat and 33 days of frost per year. The rainiest months are April, May and June. The normal minimum temperatures occur in January with average 5 °C (41 °F), and the maximum normal temperatures in August with 23 °C (73 °F).
Various discoveries by local archaeologists suggest that the territory of Muret was populated as early as theNeolithic period: A hut foundation dating from 4000 BC has been unearthed to the north of the town. Different objects in theChalcolithic, around 3,000 to 2,500 BC; then theBronze Age from 1,700 BC indicate the permanence of the population here. A series of Gallo-Roman brick kilns dating back to the 1st century AD is located along the right bank of the Garonne. A villa occupied the site of the current town centre; surrounded by protective walls it was given the name of Murellum, which became Murel, and then Muret in theMiddle Ages.
On 12 September 1213 theBattle of Muret took place betweenSimon de Montfort and a coalition force under the control ofCount Raymond of Toulouse, and KingPeter II of Aragon. Muret entered history. That day, the battle changed the horizons of both sides of the Pyrenean border and saw the fate ofOccitania decided. In an era where feudal entities (including theCount of Toulouse and his allies) still believed that they were able to play a role in the control of the southern areas on both slopes of thePyrenees, the lords of the north of France, who spearheaded theAlbigensian Crusade, attempted to impose themselves upon the south and eliminateCatharism.
De Montfort had been fighting Albigensian heretics during theAlbigensian Crusade, when he was besieged by the vastly superior coalition army. Refusing to surrender or be starved into submission, de Montfort went on the offensive. Leading his knights out of the town, he proceeded to position them in a wide arc, then fell upon the Toulouse cavalry with a noiselike a whole forest going down under the axe. Next to fall before the Crusader army was the Aragonian cavalry, where King Peter himself fell to the sword. After this, all that was left was to scatter the remaining cavalry defending the coalition camp before turning on the infantry that had been besieging Muret's walls. Despite their overwhelming advantage in numbers,the coalition army numbering almost 34,000 men was destroyed by de Montfort's army of only 2,100. The siege of Muret was lifted.
7,000-20,000 coalition troops were killed compared to a handful of casualties for de Monfort's army.
So it was at Muret, on 12 September 1213, where King Peter II of Aragon who came to reinforce the local Occitan forces, lost his life. This defeat of the Occitano-Aragonese troops heralded the annexation of theLanguedoc to the Crown ofFrance and the end of Catharism.
The arms of Muret areblazoned : "Quartered: On the first and fourth ofargent to two crenellatedfessesazure, the second and thirdgules to the fourotelles of argent backed and posed insaltire", which is ofComminges.
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From 1962 to 1999: Population without double counting; for the years following: municipal population. Source: Ldh/EHESS/Cassini until 1999[7] thenINSEE[8]
Muret is a true centrality in the area of life and activity of the Muretain, near Toulouse. Its stable economic fabric is composed primarily of small and medium-sized enterprises and industries, covering many sectors of activities. The economic development jurisdiction is exercised by the Agglomération Community of Muretain, which develops and consolidates the local economic fabric, and helps the creation of enterprises for the benefit of employment.
Muret has important reserves mainly located on the areas of activities of the territory.
Muret Gateway: 20 hectares (49 acres) located north of the town, at the junction of the A64 exit.
Cap Clément Ader / Les Bonnets: Adjacent to the Muret-Lherm airport, with in its centre, the internationalkarting.
Joffrery: 97 hectares (240 acres) at the northern entrance of Muret.
Marclan: 35 hectares (86 acres) north of the town.
Sans Soucis: 16 hectares (40 acres) at the northern boundary of the town.
Léopold Niel [fr] (1846–1918), son of the Marshal, general of brigade (1897), was buried at Muret as his parents and his cousins, the Niels of Brioudes.
The Church of Santiago de Muret, main monument of the town: It was built in the 12th century through the Counts of Comminges who made wall their principal residence. It is redesigned and enlarged in the 14th and 15th centuries. Particularly noteworthy is its octagonal steeple of Toulouse type. It is classified as early as 1928. In 1538 - 1548, a large vaulted choir was added at the end of the panelledGothicnave. Its decor is restored after the depredations of the Revolution, under the first Empire, in a neo-classical style and side chapels were built.
Muret offers more than 100 sport and leisure events per year. Its facilities are many and varied:Gymnasiums,tennis courts, recreation area with a fitness trail, two landscaped lakes, internationalkarting, anaerodrome, acanoeing facility, three bowling facilities, askate park, twoshooting ranges, avelodrome, ariding club and theAqualudia, the Muretainswimming centre with its six indoor and outdoor pools.
Muret has more than 50 sporting associations, including:[21]
The town is part of the pastoral sector of Muret, which includes the parishes of Saint-Jacques, Saint-Jean, and the parishes of the villages: Estantens,Ox [fr],Le Fauga,Eaunes andSaint-Hilaire. Father Joseph Coltro is the senior priest of this pastoral area.[22]
The cultural association of the Evangelical Church in Muret[23] occupies premises located at 12Chemin de la Pyramide, inaugurated in November 2012[24] after a year of work.[25] The pastor is Bernard Gisquet.[26]
The Association of Franco-Muslim culture and worship of Muret (AFMCCM)[27] acquired the premises of a former locksmith,[28] Rue Marclan, in an industrial area north of Muret, in 2000, for the founding of themosque of Muret.
Collection and treatment of household waste and assimilated waste as well as protection and the development of the environment are part of theagglomeration community of the Muretain [fr].[29]