La Vacquerie-et-Saint-Martin-de-Castries

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LA VACQUERIE-ET-SAINT-MARTIN-DE-CASTRIES

Département : Hérault

Official blazon
French	De gueules au chef de sable chargé de deux croisettes d'argent; à la crosse d'or brochant sur le tout; à la vache passante d'argent accornée, onglée, colletée et clarinée d'azur brochant sur le champ et la crosse.
English	Vacquerie-et-Saint-Martin-de-Castries No blazon/translation known. Please click here to send your (heraldic !) blazon or translation

Origin/meaning

The arms were adopted in June 2003.

The cow (vache) is a canting element for La Vaquerie. In 1832 it was merged with the hamlet of Saint-Martin-de-Castries and the two crosses refer to the two villages.

The black chief refers to the local (dark) caves and the prehistoric inhabitation of the area. The crosier refers to the Bishop of Lodève and the Abbot of Saint-Guilhem to whom the village historically belonged. The red colour is the colour of the Languedoc region.

Literature : Image from http://www.armorialdefrance.fr