Allassac
Allassac | |
---|---|
A general view of Allassac | |
Coordinates: 45°15′33″N 1°28′35″E / 45.2592°N 1.4764°E | |
Country | France |
Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
Department | Corrèze |
Arrondissement | Brive-la-Gaillarde |
Canton | Allassac |
Intercommunality | Bassin de Brive |
Government | |
• Mayor (2014-2020) | Jean-Louis Lascaux |
Area 1 | 39.01 km2 (15.06 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[1] | 4,019 |
• Density | 100/km2 (270/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 19005 /19240 |
Elevation | 103–387 m (338–1,270 ft) (avg. 170 m or 560 ft) |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
Allassac (Alassac in Occitan) is a commune in the Corrèze department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of central France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Allassacois or Allassacoises[2]
The commune has been awarded three flowers by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.[3]
Geography
Located in the Brive Basin, the commune of Allassac is irrigated by three major rivers in the north-south direction: the Vézère and its tributaries the Loyre and the Clan which is a sub-tributary of the Corrèze.
Allassac, like many surrounding communes, is part of Vézère Ardoise Country and benefits from the label French Towns and Lands of Art and History.
The town of Allassac is located at the intersection of departmental roads D9, D25, D34 and D134. It is also traversed by the Orléans–Montauban railway line with a station at Allassac. It is located, in orthodromic distances, 6 kilometres east of Objat and 12 kilometres north-west of Brive-la-Gaillarde.
The commune is also served by departmental roads D57, D148, and D901.
Four kilometres to the south-east, the A20 autoroute allows direct access to Allassac through Exit 48.
Hamlets[4]
Apart from the town the commune has the following hamlets:
- La Bessiere
- Les Borderies
- Brochat
- La Chapelle
- La Chatroulle
- Le Colombier
- La Croix Saint-Joseph
- L'Escurotte
- Eyzac
- La Faurie
- Garavet
- Gauche
- Laujour
- Montaural
- La Pialeporchie
- Les Placeaux
- La Plaine de Garavet
- Le Pont Salomon
- Le Pos Delpy
- Le Puy
- Les Rebieres Blanche
- La Roche
- Le Saillant d'Allassac
- Le Saillant Vieux
- Verdier
- Verdier-Bas
- Verdier-Haut
- Le Saillent
In Latin aqua saliens meaning "leaping water. The name evokes the rapids and a cascade into a deep gorge. It was called ad illo Salente in 904.
Neighbouring communes and villages[4]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Panorama_Allassac_Corr%C3%A8ze.jpg/800px-Panorama_Allassac_Corr%C3%A8ze.jpg)
Toponymy
Allassac is derived from the Gallo-Roman word Alaciacus (the estate of Alacius). The first mention in the form Allassac was in the will of Aredius (Saint Yrieix). He called it Alaciaco in 947.
The village is identified as Alassac in the Grand Atlas of the kingdom of France established by Johannes Blaeu in the 17th century then in the Cassini map which represented France between 1756 and 1789. It was then Allassat until the beginning of the French Revolution before the final appearance of the current name in 1801.
History
-
Old houses -
in the town
The site of La Roche was inhabited as early as the Mesolithic period as evidenced by the Racloirs and Stone tools found in the area.
When it was occupied by the Romans Allassac already had several slate quarries that allowed rapid development of the town.
In 572 Saint Yrieix and his mother donated a farm and forges to Allassac which was part of Yssandon Country. In the Carolingian period there was already a fortified complex with a church and a house belonging to the abbots of Limoges as well as a stately home.
In 864 the relics of the Holy Innocents were transported to Allassac to protect them from Norman invaders.
In the Middle Ages Allassac became a lordship of the Abbey of Saint-Martial of Limoges. This was a co-lordship belonging among others to the Roffignac family who were called the "first Christians of Limousin".
In the 14th century the town had a second enclosure with 17 towers, 8 gates, and 6 castles. The Bishopric fought to protect its territory.
In the 16th and 17th centuries Allassac expanded due to the activities in the slate quarries and food curing despite several sieges. In 1569, Henry d'Anjou spent a few days in the commune with his armies. In 1580 Allassac was the fourth largest city in Lower Limousin (today's Corrèze current). The number of fortified noble houses was increasing.
In 1790, Allassac was briefly the capital of the canton before giving way to Donzenac in 1801.
In 1870 the population was 4,200 inhabitants and for over a century slate mining remained an important industry. The farmers were also slate miners but phylloxera ended this dual economy. The farmers then turned to fruit and tobacco cultivation while developing slate quarries with the new opportunity to ship to Paris by train.
Heraldry
Administration
List of Successive Mayors[5]
From | To | Name | Party | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|
1790 | 1791 | Léonard Bonneylie | ||
1791 | 1791 | Jean Lascaux | ||
1791 | 1792 | Pierre Treuil | ||
1793 | 1794 | Jean Lascaux | ||
1795 | 1795 | M. Vervi | ||
1795 | 1795 | Jean Lascaux | ||
1796 | 1797 | Pierre Deyzac | ||
1797 | 1797 | Jean-Baptiste Bonneylie | ||
1797 | 1800 | Pierre Lascaux | ||
1800 | 1812 | Jean-Baptiste Bonneylie | ||
1812 | 1826 | Jean-Baptiste Alègre | ||
1826 | 1830 | Charles de Foucald[6] | ||
1830 | 1831 | M. Lasteyrie | ||
1831 | 1836 | Bertrand-Cyprien Boche | ||
1836 | 1870 | Mathieu Alègre | ||
1870 | 1874 | Henri Bardon | ||
1874 | 1875 | Mathieu Alègre | ||
1875 | 1876 | Louis Lavialle | ||
1876 | 1884 | Henri Bardon | ||
1884 | 1896 | Robert de Lasteyrie | ||
1896 | 1912 | Antoine Bourdu | ||
1912 | 1928 | Auguste Bourdarias | ||
1928 | 1936 | Albert Malfant | ||
1936 | 1941 | Ferdinand Marcou |
- Mayors from 1941
From | To | Name | Party | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|
1941 | 1944 | Louis Boucharel | ||
1944 | 1944 | Joseph Roncajoli | President of local liberation committee | |
1944 | 1953 | Ferdinand Marcou | ||
1953 | 1977 | Ernest Bounaix | ||
1977 | 1981 | Jean Alliot[6] | PS | Printer |
1981 | 1983 | Fernande Geneste | Retired | |
1983 | 1995 | Michel Sancier | Carrier | |
1995 | 2014 | Gilbert Fronty | PS | Schoolteacher, General Council member |
2014 | Current | Jean-Louis Lascaux | DVG |
(Not all data is known)
Population
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
2005 | 3,561 | — |
2006 | 3,601 | +1.1% |
2007 | 3,685 | +2.3% |
2008 | 3,715 | +0.8% |
2009 | 3,756 | +1.1% |
2010 | 3,796 | +1.1% |
2011 | 3,829 | +0.9% |
2012 | 3,858 | +0.8% |
2013 | 3,869 | +0.3% |
2014 | 3,882 | +0.3% |
2015 | 3,896 | +0.4% |
2016 | 3,903 | +0.2% |
Economy
Fruit-growing is well-developed in the commune, especially the Limousin apple (AOP), the peach, the plum, and the kiwifruit.
A vineyard called Coteaux du Saillant - Vézère has been replanted on five hectares on schistose soil. Allassac was famous for its vineyards until the end of the 19th century through the Saillant wine cellar. The most common varietals are Chenin, Sauvignon gris, chardonnay, merlot, and cabernet franc.
The breeding of Limousin breed calves raised by their mothers is also a common activity.
-
The Coteaux du Saillant-Vézère wine cellar at a place called La Jugie (Saillant d'Allassac)
-
Growing of nectarines and peaches
-
Apple Orchard
-
Coteaux du Saillant-Vezere near La Chartroulle
-
A Limousin bull
-
Limousin cows at rest
-
Old wine press
Cinema
In 1962 a scene for the film Le Chevalier de Pardaillan by Bernard Borderie was filmed at Pont du Saillant.
Sports
Volleyball: 3 teams are registered in the Union française des œuvres laïques d'éducation physique (UFOLEP) (mixed)
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage
The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
- The Ecole des Tours Manor (15th century)
[7] houses a collection of 600 Roman and medieval weapons and armour as well as a forge for making weapons called "la Bombard" which was the last edge tool making activity in France
- The Tour de César (Caesar's Tower) (12th century)
[8] with a height of 30 metres is all that is left of the ancient fortifications. It is made of slate and gneiss. The battlements were added in the 15th century. This is one of the few round towers from the Middle Ages in Limousin.
- The old Saillant Bridge over the Vézère (16th century)
[9][10]
- Other sites of interest
- The Chateau of Lasteyrie is a noble house from the 19th century at Saillant
- Le Saillant, a village traversed by the Vézère and shared between the communes of Allassac (The Saillant of Allassac left bank) and Voutezac (right bank).
- The Gorges and waterfalls of the Clan near the Three Villages
- The La Roche Site where Mesolithic rocks outcrop. It has an orientation table and offers a wide panorama of the Cirque du Saillant.
- At Garavet there is swimming and fishing in the Vézère
Religious heritage
- The Church of the Decapitation of Saint John the Baptist (12th century).
is registered as an historical monument.[11] The tower was fortified in the 14th century during the Hundred Years War. It has remarkable baroque furniture consisting of three altars and a pulpit. These were built by the Duhamel brothers around the year 1680. The central altarpiece (1679) is dedicated to the "sacred Heart of Jesus". That it depicts on one side Christ's Sacred Heart makes it exceptional as that devotion was activated only four years before the creation of the altar after the appearance of Christ to Margaret Mary Alacoque in Paray-le-Monial in 1675. The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
- An Altar, Retable, and 3 Statues (17th century)
[12]
- An Eagle Lectern (17th century)
[13]
- The whole Main Altar assembly (1679)
[14][15]
- A Painting: Christ on the Cross (1869)
[16][17][18]
- 2 Statues: Saint John the Baptist and Saint Joseph (1679)
[19]
- A Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (15th century)
[20]
- A Pulpit (1681)
[21]
- An Altar, Retable, and 3 Statues (17th century)
- The Chapel of Saint-Férréol is from the 17th or 18th century and is partly in the cemetery in the village of La Chartroulle. The chapel contains two items that are registered as historical objects:
- The Chapel of Saint-Laurent from the 13th and 18th centuries in the village of Saint-Laurent has a gate opening directly onto the cemetery. The chapel contains three items that are registered as historical objects:
- The Chapel of Saint-Nicolas of Tolentine was built in 1894 in the village of Brochat. It contains three items that are registered as historical objects:
- The Chapel of Saint-Roch from the 16th and 19th centuries in the village of Gauch contains two items that are registered as historical objects:
- The Chapel of Saint-Marguerite was built in red sandstone from the 13th to the 18th century at the village of La Chapelle. It contains a Statue on base: Crowned Virgin and child (17th century) which is registered as an historical object.
[32]
Picture Gallery
-
The César Tower -
The Manor of Tours -
The Church of Saint John the Baptist -
The choir of the church -
Detail of the choir:
Saint Luke with the bull
and the portrait of the Virgin -
Stained Glass windows representing
The Annunciation to Mary -
The nave of the church,
view towards the west portal -
Detail of the south portal of the church -
The Chapel of Saint-Nicolas of Tolentine -
The interior of the chapel of Saint-Nicolas of Tolentine -
The Chapel Sainte-Marguerite -
The Chapel of Saint-Ferréol -
The Chapel Saint-Roch -
The interior of the Chapel Saint-Roch -
The Chapel Saint-Laurent -
The interior of the Chapel Saint-Laurent -
The bridge of Saillant, on the right the two arches next to Allassac -
Becs from the old bridge -
Lasteyrie du Saillant Castle (a house from the 19th century)
Notable people linked to the commune
- Raynaud de La Porte, Cardinal Bishop of Ostia (+1325)
- Aymard de Foucauld, (1824-1863), an officer of the French Army
- Élie Dufaure, (1824-1865), Doctor of Laws, Lawyer at the Imperial Court of Paris.
- The Lasteyrie du Saillant family:
- Charles Philibert de Lasteyrie
- Ferdinand Charles Leon Lasteyrie
- Robert Charles de Lasteyrie
- Charles de Lasteyrie
- Georges Mamy, (1921-1997), journalist and writer, was born in Allassac.
- Jean-Louis Lascaux, Knight of the National Order of Merit, director of the Centre médico-psycho-pédagogique (CMPP) of Tulle and the director of the same at Brive unifying the fifteen towns of the Country of Art and History into Vézère Ardoise
- Aurélien Beco, born in 1986, rugby player originally from Allassac
- Bertrand de Chanac
See also
- Gare d'Allassac
- Communes of the Corrèze department
- Cantons of the Corrèze department
- Arrondissements of the Corrèze department
Notes
References
- ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ^ Inhabitants of Corrèze (in French)
- ^ Allassac in the Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom Archived December 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (in French)
- ^ a b Google Maps
- ^ List of Mayors of France
- ^ a b resigned
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00125504 Ecole des Tours Manor (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00099648 Tour de César (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00099647 Saillant Bridge over the Vézère (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00099961 Saillant Bridge over the Vézère (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00099646 Church of the Decapitation of Saint John the Baptist (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000803 Altar, Retable, and 3 Statues (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000802 Eagle Lectern (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000003 Main Altar (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000657 Retable (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000659 Painting: Christ on the Cross (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000656 Tabernacle and Exposition (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000655 Altar and seating (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000658 2 Statues: Saint John the Baptist and Saint Joseph (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000520 Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000519 Pulpit (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000794 Statue: Saint Ferréol (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000793 Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19001295 Statue: Saint Laurent (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000801 Statue: Crowned Virgin and child (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000800 Statue on base: Saint Laurent (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000797 Statue: Saint Nicolas of Tolentino (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000005 Statuette: Virgin and child (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000004 Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000799 Group Sculpture: Saint Roch speaks to the rich (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000798 Group Sculpture: Saint Roch speaks to the poor (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM19000792 Statue on base: Crowned Virgin and child (in French)
Bibliography
- Jean-Louis Lascaux, Allassac in Bas-Limousin a country... a history, Allassac, 2006 (ISBN 9782952591904)
- Chanoine Blaise-Adolphe Marche, The past glory of Allassac and its five annexes, Brive, 1909 ; Paris, 2004
External links
- Corrèze Prefecture website (in French)
- Corrèze General Council website (in French)
- Corrèze presentation website (in French)
- Allassac official website (in French)
- Allassac on the National Geographic Institute website (in French)
- Vézère-Ardoise Country on the Towns and Country of Art and History website (in French)
- Allassac on Lion1906
- Alassac on the 1750 Cassini Map
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)