Chénérailles

Chénérailles
Commune
The church in Chénérailles

Coat of arms
Chénérailles
Location within Nouvelle-Aquitaine region
Chénérailles
Coordinates: 46°06′47″N 2°10′34″E / 46.113°N 2.176°E / 46.113; 2.176Coordinates: 46°06′47″N 2°10′34″E / 46.113°N 2.176°E / 46.113; 2.176
Country France
Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department Creuse
Arrondissement Aubusson
Canton Gouzon
Intercommunality CC Chénérailles, Auzances/Bellegarde et Haut Pays Marchois
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Bernard Robin
Area1 7.77 km2 (3.00 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 736
 • Density 95/km2 (250/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code 23061 /23130
Elevation 487–553 m (1,598–1,814 ft)
(avg. 560 m or 1,840 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Chénérailles (Cheneralha in occitan) is a communein the Creuse department in central France.

Geography

A small town situated at the junction of the D997, D4, D7 and D55 roads, 12 miles to the north of Aubusson, on a hill dominating marshy areas from which rises a tributary of the Voueize.

History

Part of the medieval defences

Originally a fortified stronghold going back to before Roman times, there’s plenty of evidence found of Roman occupation too (urns, papryus ashes, coins and medallions of the emperors Maximilian, Gallien, Gordien and Licinius). The city was once surrounded by a strong wall, in the middle of which there was a castle (since destroyed). These days, the site is occupied by the parish church of St Barthélémy. Chénérailles suffered from the wars against the English early in the 15th century, being almost completely destroyed, but Jacques and Bernard of Armagnac, Comtes de la Marche, rebuilt the place between the years 1430 and 1440. The first of these Counts, Jacques, re-confirmed several privileges that had been granted to Chénérailles, in 1265, by Hugues XII of Lusignan. In 1592, towards the end of the French Wars of Religion, the city supported the Catholic League and was besieged for 8 months, only surrendering when they were starved out.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962688—    
1968729+6.0%
1975674−7.5%
1982685+1.6%
1990794+15.9%
1999759−4.4%
2008736−3.0%

Sights

  • St. Barthélemy church, dating from the thirteenth century.
  • The nineteenth century chapel of Notre-Dame.
  • The ancient ramparts.

See also

References


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