Fronsac, Gironde

Fronsac
Commune

Coat of arms
Fronsac
Location within Nouvelle-Aquitaine region
Fronsac
Coordinates: 44°55′30″N 0°16′19″W / 44.925°N 0.272°W / 44.925; -0.272Coordinates: 44°55′30″N 0°16′19″W / 44.925°N 0.272°W / 44.925; -0.272
Country France
Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department Gironde
Arrondissement Libourne
Canton Le Libournais-Fronsadais
Intercommunality Fronsac
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Marcel Durant
Area1 15.29 km2 (5.90 sq mi)
Population (2012)2 1,146
 • Density 75/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code 33174 /33126
Elevation 1–84 m (3.3–275.6 ft)
(avg. 30 m or 98 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.

Fronsac is a commune in the Gironde department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. The town gave its name to the Fronsac AOC wine.

Geography

The commune is situated in the Fronsadais and is bordered on the south by the Dordogne River and on the east by the Isle River, which separates it from Libourne. Fronsac is 40 km northeast of Bordeaux and 5 km northwest of Libourne and the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol appellations.

The tidal bore's viaduct allows the A89 motorway to cross the Dordogne, between Fronsac (on the right bank) and Arveyres

History

Fronsac's mound owes its history to its privileged position. It was the site of the Gauls' market, the Romans erected an altar there, and Charlemagne built a fortified camp on the mound ("Franciacus") in 769, where the Basques led by duke Lupo came to pledge allegiance to the Frankish King after Aquitaine's submission. In 849, Fronsac was pillaged by Hasting, the chief of the Vikings.[1] The Marechal of Richelieu had a "folly" built there, to an extravagant architectural design, where he held courtly entertainments. As word spread of these events, the renown of Fronsac's wines was carried with it to the Court of Versailles. In the 18th Century, the names of Fronsac and Canon Fronsac enjoyed a very good reputation. It was at this time that the concept of "cru" first appeared in the Libournais.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19621,230—    
19681,155−6.1%
19751,129−2.3%
19821,170+3.6%
19901,067−8.8%
19991,042−2.3%
20081,046+0.4%

Administration

List of Mayors
PeriodNamePartyBackground
1983–present (re-elected in March 2008)Marcel DurantUMPRetired farmer
Earlier data are not known

Sights

Personalities

International Relations

Wine

Situated on the right bank of the Gironde River, the commune is an appellation in itself, as well as a sub-appellation, Canon-Fronsac AOC.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Michel Dillange (1995). Les Comtes de Poitou, Ducs d'Aquitaine (778–1204) (in French) (Geste éditions, coll. ed.). La Crèche. p. 56. ISBN 2-910919-09-9.
  2. ↑ Directory of Twinned Towns and Cities


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