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Bourganeuf

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tbennert (talk | contribs) at 04:49, 11 November 2016 (top: update for new French regions, replaced: Limousin (region)|Limousin → Nouvelle-Aquitaine using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Bourganeuf
Town hall
Town hall
Coat of arms of Bourganeuf
Location of Bourganeuf
Map
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentCreuse
ArrondissementGuéret
CantonBourganeuf
IntercommunalityBourganeuf et Royère-de-Vassivière
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Jean-Pierre Jouhaud
Area
1
22.54 km2 (8.70 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)
2,917
 • Density130/km2 (340/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
23030 /23400
Elevation380–602 m (1,247–1,975 ft)
(avg. 413 m or 1,355 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Bourganeuf (Template:Lang-oc) is a commune in the Creuse department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in central France.

Geography

An area of farming and forestry, comprising the village and several hamlets situated in the valley of the Taurion river, some 21 miles (34 km) south of Guéret, at the junction of the D8, D912, D940 and the D941.

History

The year 1103 saw the village become home to the Knights of St John, who built a castle here.
Prince Cem Sultan, pretender to the throne of the Ottoman Empire, was kept prisoner here in the fifteenth century.
In 1886, the commune was the third place in all of France to be supplied with power using hydroelectricity. Thanks to French engineer, Marcel Deprez, the waterfalls of the river were harnessed to light up the streets, mairie, shops and cafes.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19623,310—    
19683,804+14.9%
19753,637−4.4%
19823,738+2.8%
19903,385−9.4%
19993,163−6.6%
20082,917−7.8%

Sights

Jarrauds waterfall
  • The church of St.Pierre, dating from the twelfth century.
  • The church of St.Jean, dating from the fifteenth century.
  • The remains of a 12th-century castle.
  • Four chapels.
  • A museum of electricity.
  • The archaeological museum in the Zizim(Cem) tower.

Personalities

International relations

Bourganeuf is twinned with: Germany Zirndorf, Germany

See also

References