Berrias-et-Casteljau

Berrias-et-Casteljau
region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Ardèche
Arrondissement	Largentière
Canton	Les Cévennes Ardéchoises
Community association	Pays des Vans en Cévennes
Coordinates	44 ° 22 ′  N , 4 ° 12 ′  E Coordinates: 44 ° 22 ′  N , 4 ° 12 ′  E
height	100-262 m
surface	26.42 km 2
Residents	762 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	29 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	07460
INSEE code	07031
Website	www.berrias-et-casteljau.fr
Château de Jalès, Monument historique

Berrias-et-Casteljau is a French municipality with 762 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the department of Ardèche in the Region Auvergne Rhône-Alpes . The inhabitants are called Berriassois (es) and Casteljois (es) .

The municipality was created on June 4, 1975 through the merger of the previously independent municipalities of Berrias and Casteljau.

geography

The municipality extends along the alluvial plain of the Chassezac river , in the extreme south of the department. It is characterized by limestone slopes and other geological rock forms that have been created by fluvial erosion . The north-west of the municipality is forested. Neighboring communities are Saint-Paul-le-Jeune and Banne . The next largest city is Alès , 29 kilometers south-west.

geology

Berrias gave its name to the Berriasium (also abbreviated in German as Berrias ), a chronostratigraphic stage in the history of the earth.

history

The municipality was settled in ancient times. Barrow graves and a Gallo-Roman necropolis testify to this . Merovingian graves can also be found.

The district Berrias was already in the early Middle Ages an important military post, so in 1140 in the Château de Jales a Coming of the Knights Templar was built. It is one of the oldest and best preserved in the country. At the beginning of the French Revolution in 1792, the king's supporters found shelter here. In the same year the citizens of Les Vans planned a massacre of the royalists, in which the commander was damaged and many people died. In the 18th century the castle was restored and a silkworm farm was established. The building currently houses the Institut de préhistoire orientale of CNRS .

Population development

year	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2007	2017
Residents	433	403	391	536	541	566	602	762
Sources: Cassini and INSEE

Culture and sights

The municipality of Berrias-et-Casteljau lives from tourism. The most popular excursion destination is the Château de Jalès , where detailed tours on the history of these comrades and the Knights Templar are still offered today. Also worth seeing are the antique draw well from the 18th century, the old cellars and storage rooms with their round ceilings and the currently vacant chapel, equipped with a medieval fresco .

There is a former manor house in the Casteljau district, two churches from the 19th century and a votive chapel in Berrias and Les Borels.

The community also offers many hiking and climbing tours. For example through the Bois de Païolive with its extraordinary rock formations. Another popular destination is the Tranchée du Chassezac , two steep rock faces with strange rock shapes. Along the numerous river gorges there is also the opportunity to relax on small sandbanks such as the Mazet-Plage .

Economy and Infrastructure

The distillation of lavender into fragrant lavender oil is an ancient craft of local farmers. This tradition was already common in the Middle Ages, so that wealthy personalities could produce expensive perfumes. Even today, homemade oils and perfumes are available on site.

Web links

Commons : Berrias-et-Casteljau  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from July 21, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.