Les Essards (Charente-Maritime)
| Les Essards | ||
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| region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | |
| Department | Charente-Maritime | |
| Arrondissement | Saintes | |
| Canton | Saint-Porchaire | |
| Community association | Charente-Arnoult-Cœur de Saintonge | |
| Coordinates | 45 ° 48 ′ N , 0 ° 45 ′ W | |
| height | 23-62 m | |
| surface | 9.66 km 2 | |
| Residents | 698 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 72 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 17250 | |
| INSEE code | 17154 | |
.JPG) Townscape with Saint-Nicolas church |
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Les Essards is a western commune with 698 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the department of Charente-Maritime in the region Nouvelle-Aquitaine .
location
Les Essards lies at a height of about 45 meters above sea level. d. M. in the historic cultural landscape of the Saintonge about 12.5 kilometers (driving distance) northwest of Saintes or 32 kilometers southeast of Rochefort .
Population development
| year | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2006 | 2016 |
| Residents | 463 | 430 | 390 | 412 | 445 | 484 | 555 | 704 |
In the 19th century the place always had between 600 and 720 inhabitants. The phylloxera crisis and the mechanization of agriculture led to a population decline, which has been halted in recent decades due to the proximity to the major cities of Saintes and Rochefort and the comparatively low rents and land prices in Les Essards.
economy
For centuries, agriculture for the self-sufficiency of the population played the largest role in the economic life of the community. But wine has been grown in the area since Roman times, which has been distilled since early modern times and exported to northern Europe (especially to England ). Beurlay is one of the Bois ordinaires et communs of the Cognac wine-growing region , but most grapes are processed into wine and Pineau des Charentes due to the decline in sales of Cognac brandies .
Attractions
- The Romanesque parish church of Saint-Nicolas is a simple 12th century building. As usual in Saintonge, the west facade is divided into three levels: The lower level is reserved for the unadorned archivolt portal and two side blind portals, which are separated from each other by four half-column templates, so that optically a triumphal arch scheme results. The middle level was formerly divided into four almost square fields by five half-columns; it ends at the top with a console frieze . The sides of the nave walls and the gable field with a round window , but otherwise without decoration , were later raised so that a vault could be drawn inside. After being destroyed in the Hundred Years War (1337-1453), a tower and several chapels were added on the south side in the 15th century; Inside, the crossing and choir area were renewed and the flat apse was given a late Gothic window.
literature
- Le Patrimoine des Communes de la Charente-Maritime. Flohic Editions, Volume 2, Paris 2002, ISBN 2-84234-129-5 , p. 937.
