Mas Deu and the Knights Templar, Trouillas

As you drive towards Trouillas on the D612, dominating the sea of vines, you will see the imposing 18^th century stone and brick outbuildings of Chateau du Mas *Deu. Slightly to the left is a thick grove of dark trees through which can be seen a tower, an old chapel and some ruined walls. This is all that remains of the 12^th Century  Comanderie of the Knights Templar.

Back from the Holy Land

These soldier knights, returning to France from the Holy Land, made Mas Deu their administrative and religious headquarters in Roussillon. The walls were fortified, the house grand, a church was built. At the height of their power they controlled over 800 hectares and the largest vineyards in Europe. They drained lagoons, ordered the salt trade, farmed cattle, branched out into property development and mortgages. They monopolised Perpignan’s bakeries, possessed  mills, olive groves, tanneries and became successful bankers. They imported foreign fancy goods from their base in Collioure. They became extremely powerful.

In the early 1300s Philippe Le Bel decided enough was enough.

On the 13^th of October 1307,  acting in the name of the Pope, the King and the Church, all Knights Templar in France were arrested and thrown into prison.

Mas Deu became a centre of  the Inquisition.

The First Vin Doux

Wine has been grown there since Roman times. During and after the time of the Templars this tradition continued. At the start of the 14^th Century, Arnaud de Villeneuve, Physician to the Kings of Aragon, created the first ever Vin Doux in the cellars of Mas Deu. His method of stopping the fermetation of the naturally sweet wine with a small amount of eau de vie is used to this day. Through all the skirmishes and battles between French and Spanish in the centuries that followed, the vineyards kept producing. By 1852, Mas Deu wines were dominating the local market as well as being exported all over the world.

Ammunition Dump

Between the wars the property was split up and a number of the vineyard workers formed the Cave Coperative of Trouillas. The château and church continued to be used for marriages and christenings by illustrious families connected to Mas Deu’s past. By 1935 Astor and Rose Oliver owned the buildings and 25 hectares of vines, but, during the 2^nd World War Mas Deu once again became a headquarters. This time of the Occupying German Army. The beautiful old buildings were used as an ammunition depot.
On 17^th of August 1944, before retreating, an explosion blew most of them up.

All that remains now in the dark grove of tall trees is the north tower, some of the fortified wall and the chapel, and the vineyards and the 18^th century out-buildings where Claude Oliver continues six generations of  family wine making tradition with flair and enthusiasm.

*Pron Masse Day-oo