Avy, Charente-Maritime
Avy is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France. Communes of the Charente-Maritime department INSEE
Aytré
Aytré is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. Aytré is known for its long beach, accessible from neighbouring La Rochelle, or Les Minimes; the beach is flat and shallow, making it a good bathing spot for children, an excellent spot for windsurfing. The historian Jean Prasteau was born in Aytré, as was Jean Desaguliers, a Protestant pastor, father of John Theophilus Desaguliers. Industries are few, economic activity gravitates around La Rochelle, with the distinct exception of Alstom Transportation; the world's fastest train, TGV, was designed right in Aytré. Oysters are cultivated in the bay and important camping grounds have been developed for tourists during the summer period. During the Siege of La Rochelle, Cardinal de Richelieu spent time in a farm just to the south of Aytré. Communes of the Charente-Maritime department INSEE Official website
Aulnay, Charente-Maritime
Aulnay referred to as Aulnay-de-Saintonge, is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Aulnaysiennes. Aulnay is located on the Via Turonensis. One of the Ways of St. James some 45 km east by south-east of Surgères and 17 km north-east of Saint-Jean-d'Angély. Access to the commune is by the D950 from Les Églises-d'Argenteuil in the south-west which passes through the commune just west of the town and continues to La Villedieu in the north; the D121 comes from Saint-Georges-de-Longuepierre in the north-west passing through the town and continuing south to Cherbonnières. The D129 comes from Varaize in the south passing through the town and continuing north-east to Saint-Mandé-sur-Brédoire; the D133 goes from the town south-east to Néré. In the commune there is the village of La Cressoniere west of the town, Pinsenelle north-west of the town, Salles-lès-Aulnay east of the town. Apart from the urban area of the town the commune is farmland.
The Brédoire river flows through the commune and the town from east to west to join the Boutonne at Nuaillé-sur-Boutonne. Although a small river the Brédoire flooded the town in December 1982; the Palud flows through the north of the commune from the east to join the Brédoire at La Cressoniere. The Saudrenne flows from the east in the south of the commune forming part of the southern border before continuing to join the Boutonne at Saint-Pardoult. Called Aunedonnacum in the itinerary of Antoninus Pius and Auedonnaco in the Tabula Peutingeriana, Aulnay was a Gallo-Roman station on the important imperial Roman road between Saintes and Poitiers, between Saintes and Lyon before a more direct route, the Via Agrippa, was built. Aerial photographs taken by aerial archaeologist Jacques Dassié and archaeological excavations have revealed a remarkable Roman camp at a place called Rocherou; this castrum was created for strategic reasons around the year 21 AD and abandoned around the year 43 AD. Its construction was carried out modelled on Roman camps in the conquest of Germania under the Principate of Augustus and on camps on the Limes of the Rhine due to the attested presence of displaced legions from Germania.
Several Roman inscriptions have been found. Aerial photography has revealed the existence of a Fanum with a polygonal Cella and a Peribolos, proof of the existence of an important Gallo-Roman city; as the capital of a fiscal jurisdiction Aulnay was the seat of a lordship in 925, as evidenced by the donation made by Cadelon I to several abbeys. The Viscounts of Aulnay were descendants of other noble families in Poitou and Saintonge and lived in a castle, demolished in 1818 but whose tower still remains. A common name for Aulnay is Aulnay-de-Saintonge but under the Ancien Régime Aulnay did not belong to the province of Saintonge but to the Province of Poitou and the Diocese of Poitiers. By decree dated 12 December 1973 the commune of Salles-lès-Aulnay merged with the commune of Aulnay. Aulnay is the capital of the canton of Aulnay-de-Saintonge which has the largest extent in the department of Charente-Maritime. List of Successive Mayors; the evolution of the number of inhabitants is known from the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1793.
From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger towns that have a sample survey every year. Population change Sources: Ldh/EHESS/Cassini until 1962, INSEE database from 1968 The population of the town is old; the ratio of persons above the age of 60 years is higher than the national average and the departmental average. As for national and departmental allocations, the male population of the town is less than the female population. Percentage Distribution of Age Groups in Aulnay and Charente-Maritime Department in 2010 Sources: Evolution and Structure of the population of the Commune in 2010, INSEE. Evolution and Structure of the population of the Department in 2010, INSEE. Old Railway serviceThe Compagnie de chemins de fer départementaux operated the Charentes and Deux-Sèvres railway network with a line crossing the commune; this was the Saint-Jean-d'Angély to Saint-Saviol line. The first locomotives used were built by Derosne-Cail.
The old station buildings were transferred to the Departmental Directorate of Public Works in 1954. The Goizin factory for agricultural PloughsThe Goizin factory was once the largest industrial employer in the commune. Robert Goizin first set up a maintenance workshop and sold spare parts for agricultural equipment with a shop to display them. During the 1950s he turned to the manufacture of ploughs; the evolution in the power of tractors lead to significant growth in the 1970s. The company employed up to 80 workers until the end of the 20th century. After some difficult years, since 2005 the company has belonged to the Eurotechnics Agri Groupe but it remains active in Aulnay; the commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: The Minargent Distillery A Chateau A Dairy Factory Other sites of interest A large Dovecote with 2,000 pigeonholes, restored. The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: A Cemetery Cross The Church of Saint-Pierre d'A
Angoulins
Angoulins is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Angoulinoises. Angoulins is located in the northwest of the department of Charente-Maritime some 8 km south-east of La Rochelle and 5 km north of Châtelaillon-Plage in the former province of Aunis, it is a coastal commune on the Atlantic Ocean. Access is by the E602 highway from La Rochelle continuing south-east with an exit in the commune just east of Angoulins town. There is the D202 from Salles-sur-Mer in the east turning south and continuing to Chatelaillon-Plage. Access to the town is by the D111E1 from the D202 on the southern border continuing through the town and turning east to the motorway exit. Angoulins town has a large urban area occupying 50% of the commune, with farmland to the north and west; the entire commune is located on Jurassic terrain which covers the plain of Aunis. Jurassic Marl and limestone outcrops appear on the surface of the commune and the relief is rolling.
The coastal strip of Angoulins, which corresponds to the last extremity of the plain of Aunis, is varied. It alternates between high limestone cliffs. Low-lying coasts, which were salt marshes, have today been transformed into oyster beds and are derived from Quaternary sedimentary deposits of marine origin - from the last Flandrian transgression; the sandy coast is situated in a small cove formed by the phenomena of marine erosion and ocean currents. The coastal cliffs are located all around the Chay Point and form a limestone peninsula - a sharp promontory jutting into the ocean. Layers of alternating beds of oolitic marl and limestone can be seen on the cliffs that line the coast from La Rochelle to Angoulins-sur-Mer, they are highlighted by thick layers of white rocks alternating with layers of friable sand and mud, formed during glacial periods with layers containing various corals from tropical periods. Chay Point, about five kilometres south of La Rochelle, contains many fossils of marine animals and is an famous place of palaeontological studies.
The limestone thus formed is used as a building material in traditional houses in the region. Aytré 3 km Châtelaillon-Plage 3.1 km La Rochelle 6.1 km Rochefort 20.7 km La Rochelle 10.8 km Rochefort-St-Agnant 26 km Aerodrome of Royan-Médis 54 km List of successive mayors The population of the town is old. The rate of people above the age of 60 years is higher than the national rate and the departmental rate; as at the national and departmental levels, the female population of the commune is higher than the male population. The percentage is of the same order of magnitude as the national rate. Percentage distribution of age groups in Angoulins and Charente-Maritime department in 2009 Sources: Evolution and Structure of the population of the Commune in 2009, INSEE. Evolution and Structure of the population of the Department in 2009, INSEE. There are 12 enterprises in industry, 24 in construction, 83 shops, 37 service enterprises, two farms, one shellfish farm. Angoulins is best known for its shopping area.
The Church of Saint-Peter is registered as an historical monument. There remains the Machicolations on the walkway that connects the three Bartizans located in the north-east corner and the two corners of the apse; the west façade forms a bell tower wall in a fortified triangle. The Chevet preserves the structure of the walkway between the two Bartizans; the nave is Gothic with arched ribs. The church contains two items that are registered as historical objects: A pulpit A bronze bell Colette Besson, gold medalist in the 400m at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico, died in Angoulins and was buried in the cemetery. Father Daniel Brottier, founder of the Foundation of Auteuil, came to spend his summer holidays. Angoul'Loisirs: Association of Youth and Popular Education founded under the 1901 Act in 1992 which includes different sectors: a day nursery, a leisure centre, a Youth Projects area, a Family area. Centre Nautique d'Angoulins: An association under the 1901 Act founded in 1976. Comprising a handful of enthusiasts and a wooden hut, the association now has more than a hundred members and hosted nearly 2,000 people over the year.
An artificial body of water was added to the site in 1990. On the night of 27 to 28 February 2010, the Centre Nautique d'Angoulins was badly affected by the storm Xynthia; the buildings were flooded to an average height of 1.60 m. The club's pontoon for teaching fishing, available to rent, was destroyed by the storm. Communes of the Charente-Maritime department Articles on Angoulin's history Angoulins on Lion1906 Angoulins on Google Maps Angoulins on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute website Angoulin on the 1750 Cassini Map Angoulins on the INSEE website INSEE
Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime is a department on the southwestern coast of France named after the Charente River. A part of Saintonge and Aunis, Charente-Inférieure was one of the 83 original departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. On 4 September 1941, it was renamed Charente-Maritime; when first created, the commune of Saintes was assigned as the prefecture of the department. This changed in 1810 when Napoleon passed an imperial decree which moved the prefecture to La Rochelle. During World War II, the department was invaded by the German army and became part of occupied France. To provide defence against a possible beach landing, the Organisation Todt constructed a number of sea defences in the area. Defences such as pillboxes are noticeable on the beaches of the presqu'île d'Arvert and the island of Oléron. At the end of the war there were only two pockets of German resistance: La Rochelle, in the north and Royan in the south. Despite being completely destroyed during an RAF bombing raid on 5 January 1945, the town of Royan wasn't liberated by the French resistance until April of the same year.
La Rochelle was captured on 9 May 1945. Charente-Maritime is part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine administrative region, it has a land area of 6864 km² and 628,733 inhabitants as of 2012. The important rivers are the Charente and its tributaries, the Boutonne and the Seugne, along with the Sèvre Niortaise, the Seudre, the Garonne, in its downstream part, the estuary of the Gironde; the department includes the islands of Île de Ré, Île d'Aix, Ile d'Oléron, Île Madame. The department forms the northern part of the Aquitaine Basin, it is separated from the Massif Armoricain by the Marais Poitevin to the north-west and from the Parisian basin by the Seuil du Poitou to the north-east. The highest point in the department is in the woods of Chantemerlière, near the commune of Contré in the north-east, rises to 173 m. Charente-Maritime is surrounded by the departments of Gironde, Deux-Sèvres and Vendée; the climate is mild and sunny, with less than 900 mm of precipitation per year and with insolation being remarkably high, in fact, the highest in Western France including southernmost sea resorts such as Biarritz.
Average extreme temperatures vary from 38 °C in summer to−5 °C in winter. The economy of Charente-Maritime is based on three major sectors: tourism, maritime industry, manufacturing. Cognac and pineau are two of the major agricultural products with maize and sunflowers being the others. During the summer months, families flock from all over Europe to bask in the sun and enjoy the local seafood. Royan, popular for its extensive beaches and attractions, is one of the most famous seaside resort of atlantic coast. Charente-Maritime is the headquarters of the major oyster producer Marennes-Oléron. Oysters cultivated here are shipped across Europe. Rochefort is a shipbuilding site and has been a major French naval base since 1665. La Rochelle is a seat of major French industry. Just outside the city is a factory for the French engineering giant Alstom, where the TGV, the cars for the Paris and other metros are manufactured, it is a popular venue for tourism, with its picturesque medieval city walls. The inhabitants of the department are called Charentais-Maritimes.
The President of the General Council is Dominique Bussereau of the Union for a Popular Movement. Popular destinations include, La Rochelle, Saintes, St Jean d'Angely, Rochefort, Île d'Aix, Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron; the department is served by the TGV at La Rochelle. It can be reached by motorway by the A10 and A837. Cantons of the Charente-Maritime department Communes of the Charente-Maritime department Arrondissements of the Charente-Maritime department Éclade des Moules "Charente-Inférieure". Encyclopædia Britannica. 5. 1911. Charente Maritime website News Charente Maritime Official Tourism Guide of Charente-Maritime Official Tourism Guide of Charente-Maritime Charente Maritime News Zoo de la Palmyre Ile d'Oléron Ile de ré Tourisme Ile de re
Arthenac
Arthenac is a French commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Arthenacais or ArthenacaisesThe commune has been awarded three flowers by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom. Arthenac is located in the south of Charente-Maritime in the former province of Saintonge some 24 km south-east of Pons, 16 km north-east of Jonzac, south-west of Archiac. Access to the commune is by the D699 road from Archiac in the north-west passing through the village and continuing south-west to Réaux. There is the D251 road from Sainte-Lheurine in the north-west passing through south of the village to Saint-Eugène in the south-east; the D149 comes from the D700 in the north passing through the village south to Allas-Champagne. The commune is farmland with two large forests south of the village. Under the Ancien Régime Arthenac was independent but was merged with Archiac in 1789.
The commune regained its independent status on 13 October 1831. List of Successive Mayors; the evolution of the number of inhabitants is known from the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1831. From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger towns that have a sample survey every year. Population change Sources: Ldh/EHESS/Cassini until 1962, INSEE database from 1968 The population of the town is old; the ratio of persons above the age of 60 years is higher than the national average but less than the departmental average. Unlike national and departmental allocations, the male population of the town is greater than the female population. Percentage Distribution of Age Groups in Arthenac and Charente-Maritime Department in 2010 Sources: Evolution and Structure of the population of the Commune in 2010, INSEE. Evolution and Structure of the population of the Department in 2010, INSEE; the Church of Saint Martin at Arthenac has had its central window restored.
It is registered as a historical monument. Communes of the Charente-Maritime department Arthenac on the National Geographic Institute website Arthenac on Lion1906 Arthenac on the 1750 Cassini Map Arthenac on the INSEE website INSEE
Annezay
Annezay is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Anneziens or Anneziennes Annezay is located some 12 km south-east of Surgères and 16 km north-west of Saint-Jean-d'Angély. Access is by the D118 road from Saint-Crépin in the south-west passing through the west of the commune and continuing north to Chervettes. There is the D213 from the village east to Saint-Loup; the D107E2 road passes through the east of the commune from the D107 in the north to Tonnay-Boutonne in the south. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Le Grand Vivroux and Le Tramaillou in the commune. Apart from a few small patches of forest the commune is farmland. There are two small unnamed streams south of the village. List of Successive Mayors Percentage Distribution of Age Groups in Annezay and Charente-Maritime Department in 2009 Sources: Evolution and Structure of the population of the Commune in 2009, INSEE.
Evolution and Structure of the population of the Department in 2009, INSEE. The Church of Saint Peter contains a Chasuble and Maniple that are registered as an historical object. Communes of the Charente-Maritime department Annezay on the National Geographic Institute website Annezay on Lion1906 Annezay on Google Maps Annezay on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute website Annezay on the 1750 Cassini Map Annezay on the INSEE website INSEE
