Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult

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Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult
Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult (France)
Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult
region Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department Charente-Maritime
Arrondissement Saintes
Canton Saint-Porchaire
Community association Charente-Arnoult-Cœur de Saintonge
Coordinates 45 ° 48 ′  N , 0 ° 51 ′  W Coordinates: 45 ° 48 ′  N , 0 ° 51 ′  W
height 11-41 m
surface 16.12 km 2
Residents 865 (January 1, 2017)
Population density 54 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code 17250
INSEE code 17408

Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult - the townscape with the Saint-Sulpice church

Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult is a western commune with 865 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the department of Charente-Maritime in the region Nouvelle-Aquitaine .

location

Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult is located on the Arnoult river at an altitude of about 20 meters above sea level. d. M. in the historic cultural landscape of the Saintonge about 22 kilometers (driving distance) northwest of Saintes or 21 kilometers southeast of Rochefort .

Population development

year 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2006 2016
Residents 409 385 389 401 465 491 595 841

In the 19th century the place always had between 400 and 560 inhabitants. The phylloxera crisis and the mechanization of agriculture led to a population decline, which has been stopped in recent decades due to the proximity to the large cities of Saintes and Rochefort and the comparatively low rents and land prices in Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult.

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 ). Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult 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 because of problems with selling expensive Cognac brandies . Many farmers have therefore returned to 'normal' agriculture.

history

Little information is available about the history of the place. However, the presence of an early Romanesque church is documented as early as 1047, which suggests that the place was inhabited for a long time. Shortly before the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) the imposing fortified tower ( donjon ) was built.

Attractions

Church Saint-Sulpice

See also: List of Monuments historiques in Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult

  • The Romanesque parish church of Saint-Sulpice dates from the 12th century; however, the choir was rebuilt in the 15th century and chapel extensions were added. The archivolt portal in the largely undivided west facade is comparatively lavishly designed with vegetable motifs and braided bands compared to the other churches in the area. Above that there are figure reliefs of two mythical creatures on both sides. The octagonal bell storey on the crossing tower comes from the 13th or 14th century. The two remaining apses are largely unstructured and undecorated. Inside, the church has a single nave, but has a transept with chapels. Vaults can be seen in the nave, but in the end it has remained with a wooden roof structure . The crossing has a dome on trumpets; the choir bay is covered by a barrel vault and the apse ends with a semi-dome at the top. Church construction has been recognized as a monument historique since 1996 .
Defense tower ( donjon )
  • A little outside of the village there is a medieval defense tower ( donjon ) which is popularly known as the Tour de l'Isleau . According to tradition, the building is the English King Henry III. (reigned 1216–1272), who also carried the title Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou . The square structure is now almost 17 meters high (it was said to have been over 30 meters earlier) with a side length of about 11 meters. The entrance was level with the first floor and could only be reached by a ladder; the basement served as a store for food and weapons as well as a lounge or bedroom for the guards. The tower is on private property and cannot be visited; it was recognized as a Monument historique as early as 1925 . There is a certain architectural similarity to the Donjon of Pons, which is about 35 kilometers (as the crow flies) away .

literature

  • Le Patrimoine des Communes de la Charente-Maritime. Flohic Editions, Volume 2, Paris 2002, ISBN 2-84234-129-5 , pp. 947-948.

Web links

Commons : Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Église, Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
  2. ^ Donjon, Saint-Sulpice-d'Arnoult in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)