Angeac-Champagne

Angeac-Champagne
Town hall
Coat of arms
Angeac-Champagne
Location within Nouvelle-Aquitaine region  Angeac-Champagne
Coordinates: 45°36′30″N 0°17′47″W / 45.6083°N 0.2963°W / 45.6083; -0.2963Coordinates: 45°36′30″N 0°17′47″W / 45.6083°N 0.2963°W / 45.6083; -0.2963
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Charente
Arrondissement	Cognac
Canton	Segonzac
Intercommunality	Grande Champagne
Government
• Mayor (2008–2020)	Gérard Faurie
Area1	14.27 km2 (5.51 sq mi)
Population (2009)2	510
• Density	36/km2 (93/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code	16012 / 16130
Elevation	17–83 m (56–272 ft) (avg. 71 m or 233 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.

Angeac-Champagne is a French commune in the Charente department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Angeacais or Angeacaises^[1]

Geography

Location and access

Angeac-Champagne is a commune located in the west of the department of Charente, near Charente-Maritime, in Grande Champagne, the premier cru of cognac.

The commune is located 10 km south of Cognac, 6 km west of Segonzac, and 3 km east of Salles-d'Angles. Angoulême, the prefecture of Charente, is 35 km to the east. Angeac is also 9 km north of Archiac, 12 km south-west of Jarnac, and 19 km north-west of Saint-Hilaire.^[2]

The commune does not lie on any main roads. The D731 road from Barbezieux to Cognac via Archiac, passes through the west of the commune. The village is served by the D150 from Germignac in the south-east and passes through the village before continuing north-east to join the D44 from Juillac-le-Coq to Roissac towards Cognac and Gensac-la-Pallue. A country road leads to the village of Salles-d'Angles and another to Genté in the north-west.^[3]

The nearest train station is at Cognac which is served by the TER between Angoulême, Saintes, and Royan.

Hamlets and localities

There are many hamlets dotting the commune. In particular Roissac, located northeast of Angeac village, was an ancient parish, and the village is as important as Angeac.

The small village of Le Bois d'Angeac together with a small forest is located 1 km north-west of the village.^[4]

Apart from a few small patches of forest the commune is entirely farmland^[4]

Neighbouring communes and villages^[4]

	Genté	Gensac-la-Pallue	Mainxe
	Salles-d'Angles		Segonzac
		Angeac-Champagne
	Celles	Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né	Juillac-le-Coq

Geology and relief

As with the whole left bank of the Charente between Angoulême and Cognac, this area is limestone dating from the Cretaceous period with Cuestas.

The commune is part of the Campanian (Late Cretaceous) chalky limestone area which occupies a large part of South Charente. There is also some Santonian rock on a small part of the northern border at Longées.

The Campanian cuesta passes through the commune. This escarpment starts in the west at Salles-d'Angles, passes the foot of the town of Genté, then runs through the whole department going east towards Bouteville, Jurignac, and Plassac-Rouffiac. In the commune the escarpment passes through the east as an inlier northeast of Roissac. It separates the north of the plain of Châteaubernard from Champagne to the south.^[5][6][7]

The highest point in the commune is at an altitude of 84 m located north-west of Roissac. Another high point of 83 m faces it to the east (topped by an IGN Survey marker). The lowest point is 17 m located in Pas de la Tombe on the south-west edge of the commune near Salles d'Angles. The commune mostly varies in height between 40 and 70 m above sea level.^[3]

Hydrography

The ford at the Spring of the Three Stones

The Ruisseau de la Motte, a small tributary of the Né River and thus a sub-tributary of the Charente, forms the commune boundary to the south. No other rivers pass through the commune but there are many pools in a valley west of the village and towards Roissac^[3] and some springs including the Three Stones east of Bois d'Angeac.

Climate

The climate is oceanic Aquitaine.

Toponymy

The word Angeac is derived from the Latin Andiacum or villa Andii meaning that the village was built around the property of a rich Gallo-Roman named Andius. The term Champagne was added to the name of the town in 1801 to distinguish it from its namesake Angeac-Charente. In Saintonge the term Champagne refers to a fertile plain of limestone. It is derived from the Latin campus meaning "field" or "plain".

The word Roissac is derived from the Latin Riatacum or villa Riatii meaning that the village was built around the property of a rich Gallo-Roman named Riatus.^[8]

History

Proto-historic circular Ditches exist in the areas of Penchant de Lorimont and Houme, with square and circular ones at a place called Les Chirons. Roman villas are said to be at Puits d'Angeac at Chabanne and there are some medieval remains at Branges.^[9]

The remains of a Gallo-Roman villa possibly dating to the first half of the 9th century were found in 1904. It was a residence of Louis the Pious. These remains have disappeared.

Angeac was first a dependency of the Templars then passed to the Marquisate of Archiac then often changed hands. In 1239 Roissac passed to the House of Angoulême then at Barbezieux. By marriage Roissac became allied with Salles-d'Angles and Genté. The rights to the marshes resulted in brawls and lawsuits with the Lordship of Gademoulin.

The commune of Angeac was created in 1793 when it belonged to the Canton of Salles in district of Cognac and the Charente department. In 1801 it took the name of Champagne and was attached to the Canton de Segonzac.

The Roissac railway station was served from 1910 to 1939 by the Chemins de fer économiques des Charentes (Cheap Trains of Charente) with a metre gauge line from Cognac to Barbezieux with 3 return trips a day at a speed of 20 km/h. This line also served stations at Cognac, Genté, Segonzac, Juillac-le-Coq, Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né, Archiac, and Barbezieux.

Heraldry

Blazon: Azure, an escutcheon of Or.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors^[10]

(Not all data is known)

Demography

In 2009 the commune had 510 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known through the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1793. From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger towns that have a sample survey every year.^{[Note 1]}

Distribution of Age Groups

Percentage Distribution of Age Groups in Angeac-Champagne and Charente Department in 2009

Sources:

• Evolution and Structure of the population of the Commune in 2009, INSEE.
• Evolution and Structure of the population of the Department in 2009, INSEE.

Facilities, services, and local life

Education

The school is an educational inter-communal grouping between Angeac-Champagne and Salles-d'Angles. Angeac-Champagne has a kindergarten and Salles-d'Angles an elementary school.^[11]

Culture and heritage

The Chateau de Roissac

François I Spring at Roissac

The commune contains a very large number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments. For a complete list with links to descriptions (in French) click here.

Some of the more interesting sites are described below.

Civil heritage

• The Chateau de Roissac (18th century). The Chateau bears the date 1830 but it was a chateau built in the Middle Ages for the La Rochefoucauld family at the site of a Gallo-Roman villa. The present chateau was built for the Beauchamp family around 1770 and the date 1830 with the initials I.P. corresponds to the remains of the outbuildings. There are decorations and, especially in the living room, wood paneling adorned with paintings of birds, flowers, fruit, landscapes, a scene with a sower, Moses and the Tablets of the Law.^[12][13]
• The Duran S.A. Distillery (1968)^[14]
• The Fountain, Lavoir (Public Laundry), and drinking trough at Roissac.^[15] They are linked to François I who would have visited the Chateau de Roissac for hunting.
• The Girls' School at Roissac.^[16]
• A Watermill at La Motte (in ruins)^[17] joined to that of Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né.
• A Windmill at La Millière (19th century)^[18]
• A Manor at Lorimont (1831).^[19] According to Martin Civat it already existed in the 16th century and was rebuilt in the 19th century. It bears the inscription "FAIT EN 1831 CHAILLOU PAUL" (Made in 1831 Chaillou Paul).
• An Underground refuge (Antiquity).^[20] A staircase to the refuge has been identified but its location remains unknown.
• An Ancient Villa of Louis the Pious (Antiquity).^[21]

The Logis d'Angeac

The entrance to the Logis d'Angeac

• The Logis d'Angeac Manor (1733).^[22] This is a manor that dates in part to the 16th century. When René de la Tour bought it in 1657 the house was to the north. The outbuildings are dated 1733. Another house was built to the west and rebuilt in the 19th century with outbuildings to the south. The entrance gate bears the date 1882.

The War Memorial

• The War Memorial (1920).^[23]
• The Town Hall (1897). The town hall was built in 1897 and 1898 by Locussol, an entrepreneur from Cognac, from the plans of the architect Lucien Roy also from Cognac.^[24]
• Farmhouses (15th - 20th century).^[25]

Religious heritage

The Church of Saint-Vivien

• A Cemetery Cross (19th century)^[26]
• The Pinard Family Funeral Chapel (19th century)^[27]
• The Renaud Family Funeral Chapel (19th century)^[28]
• The Frapin Gimbelot Prioulat Family Funeral Chapel (19th century)^[29]
• The Cemetery (19th century)^[30]
• The Parish Church of Saint-Vivien (11th century)^[31] The church was built in the 11th century and partly rebuilt in 1534 then repaired at the expense of the priest, Jean Marcus, in 1748 then restored again in 1864. Finally it was vaulted in 1875. It is elongated like a ship and covered by a ribbed vault. The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
  • The Furniture in the Church^[32]
  • A Bronze Bell (1783)^[33]
  • 2 Vases (19th century)^[34][35]
  • 2 Monstrances (19th century)^[36][37]
  • A Paten (19th century)^[38]
  • A Chalice (1884)^[39]
  • A Stoup (1874)^[40]
  • A Baptismal font (19th century)^[41]
  • A Pulpit (1879)^[42]
  • A Secondary Altar and Tabernacle (19th century)^[43]
  • The main Altar and Tabernacle (1897)^[44]
  • A Stained glass window (19th century)^[45]
  • A Stained glass window of Saint Theresa of Lisieux (1947)^[46]
  • A Stained glass window of Saint Francis of Sales (19th century)^[47]
  • A Stained glass window of Saint Joseph, Virgin, and child (19th century)^[48]
  • 2 Stained glass windows (19th century)^[49]
  • 2 Stained glass windows of Saints Peter and Paul (19th century)^[50]
  • 3 Stained glass figures (19th century)^[51]

See also

• Communes of the Charente department

External links

• Angeac-Champagne on the National Geographic Institute website (French)
• Angeac-Champagne on Lion1906
• Angeac-Champagne on Google Maps
• Angeac-Champagne on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website (French)
• Angeac-Champagne on the 1750 Cassini Map
• Angeac-Champagne on the INSEE website (French)
• INSEE (French)

Notes and references

Notes

1. ↑ At the beginning of the 21st century, the methods of identification have been modified by law No. 2002-276 of 27 February 2002 , the so-called "law of local democracy" and in particular Title V "census operations" which allow, after a transitional period running from 2004 to 2008, the annual publication of the legal population of the different French administrative districts. For communes with a population greater than 10,000 inhabitants, a sample survey is conducted annually, the entire territory of these communes is taken into account at the end of the period of five years. The first "legal population" after 1999 under this new law came into force on 1 January 2009 and was based on the census of 2006.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Angeac-Champagne.

Communes of the Charente department
Abzac Les Adjots Agris Aignes-et-Puypéroux Aigre Alloue Ambérac Ambernac Ambleville Anais Angeac-Champagne Angeac-Charente Angeduc Angoulême Ansac-sur-Vienne Anville Ars Asnières-sur-Nouère Aubeterre-sur-Dronne Auge-Saint-Médard Aunac Aussac-Vadalle Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde Balzac Barbezières Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire Bardenac Barret Barro Bassac Bayers Bazac Beaulieu-sur-Sonnette Bécheresse Bellon Benest Bernac Berneuil Bessac Bessé Bioussac Birac Blanzac-Porcheresse Blanzaguet-Saint-Cybard Boisbreteau Boisné-la-Tude Bonnes Bonneuil Bonneville Bors-de-Baignes Bors-de-Montmoreau Le Bouchage Bouëx Bourg-Charente Bouteville Boutiers-Saint-Trojan Brettes Bréville Brie Brie-sous-Barbezieux Brie-sous-Chalais Brigueuil Brillac Brossac Bunzac Cellefrouin Cellettes Chabanais Chabrac Chadurie Chalais Challignac Champagne-Mouton Champagne-Vigny Champmillon Champniers Chantillac La Chapelle Charmé Charras Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure Chassenon Chassiecq Chassors Châteaubernard Châteauneuf-sur-Charente Châtignac Chazelles Chenommet Chenon Cherves-Châtelars Cherves-Richemont La Chèvrerie Chillac Chirac Claix Cognac Combiers Condac Condéon Confolens Coulgens Coulonges Courbillac Courcôme Courgeac Courlac La Couronne Couture Cressac-Saint-Genis Criteuil-la-Magdeleine Curac Deviat Dignac Dirac Douzat Ébréon Échallat Écuras Édon Empuré Épenède Éraville Les Essards Esse Étagnac Étriac Exideuil Eymouthiers La Faye Feuillade Fléac Fleurac Fontclaireau Fontenille La Forêt-de-Tessé Fouquebrune Fouqueure Foussignac Garat Gardes-le-Pontaroux Genac-Bignac Genouillac Gensac-la-Pallue Genté Gimeux Gondeville Gond-Pontouvre Les Gours Gourville Le Grand-Madieu Grassac Graves-Saint-Amant Guimps Guizengeard Gurat Hiersac Hiesse Houlette L'Isle-d'Espagnac Jarnac Jauldes Javrezac Juignac Juillac-le-Coq Juillé Julienne Lachaise Ladiville Lagarde-sur-le-Né Laprade Lésignac-Durand Lessac Lesterps Lichères Ligné Lignières-Sonneville Linars Le Lindois Londigny Longré Lonnes Louzac-Saint-André Lupsault Lussac Luxé La Magdeleine Magnac-Lavalette-Villars Magnac-sur-Touvre Maine-de-Boixe Mainxe Mainzac Malaville Manot Mansle Marcillac-Lanville Mareuil Marillac-le-Franc Marsac Marthon Massignac Mazerolles Mazières Médillac Mérignac Merpins Mesnac Les Métairies Mons Montboyer Montbron Montembœuf Montignac-Charente Montignac-le-Coq Montigné Montjean Montmérac Montmoreau-Saint-Cybard Montrollet Mornac Mosnac Moulidars Mouthiers-sur-Boëme Mouton Moutonneau Mouzon Nabinaud Nanclars Nanteuil-en-Vallée Nercillac Nersac Nieuil Nonac Nonaville Oradour Oradour-Fanais Orgedeuil Oriolles Orival Paizay-Naudouin-Embourie Palluaud Parzac Passirac Pérignac La Péruse Pillac Les Pins Plassac-Rouffiac Pleuville Poullignac Poursac Pranzac Pressignac Puymoyen Puyréaux Raix Rancogne Ranville-Breuillaud Reignac Réparsac Rioux-Martin Rivières La Rochefoucauld La Rochette Ronsenac Rouffiac Rougnac Rouillac Roullet-Saint-Estèphe Roumazières-Loubert Roussines Rouzède Ruelle-sur-Touvre Ruffec Saint-Adjutory Saint-Amant Saint-Amant-de-Boixe Saint-Amant-de-Bonnieure Saint-Amant-de-Nouère Saint-Angeau Saint-Aulais-la-Chapelle Saint-Avit Saint-Bonnet Saint-Brice Saint-Christophe Saint-Ciers-sur-Bonnieure Saint-Claud Saint-Coutant Saint-Cybardeaux Sainte-Colombe Sainte-Sévère Sainte-Souline Saint-Eutrope Saint-Félix Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né Saint-Fraigne Saint-Front Saint-Genis-d'Hiersac Saint-Georges Saint-Germain-de-Montbron Saint-Gourson Saint-Groux Saint-Laurent-de-Belzagot Saint-Laurent-de-Céris Saint-Laurent-de-Cognac Saint-Laurent-des-Combes Saint-Léger Saint-Martial Saint-Martin-du-Clocher Saint-Mary Saint-Maurice-des-Lions Saint-Médard Saint-Même-les-Carrières Saint-Michel Saint-Palais-du-Né Saint-Preuil Saint-Projet-Saint-Constant Saint-Quentin-de-Chalais Saint-Quentin-sur-Charente Saint-Romain Saint-Saturnin Saint-Séverin Saint-Simeux Saint-Simon Saint-Sornin Saint-Sulpice-de-Cognac Saint-Sulpice-de-Ruffec Saint-Vallier Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente Salles-d'Angles Salles-de-Barbezieux Salles-de-Villefagnan Salles-Lavalette Saulgond Sauvagnac Sauvignac Segonzac Sers Sigogne Sireuil Souffrignac Souvigné Soyaux Suaux Suris La Tâche Taizé-Aizie Taponnat-Fleurignac Le Tâtre Theil-Rabier Torsac Tourriers Touvérac Touvre Touzac Triac-Lautrait Trois-Palis Turgon Tusson Tuzie Val-des-Vignes Valence Vars Vaux-Lavalette Vaux-Rouillac Ventouse Verdille Verneuil Verrières Verteuil-sur-Charente Vervant Vibrac Le Vieux-Cérier Vieux-Ruffec Vignolles Vilhonneur Villebois-Lavalette Villefagnan Villegats Villejésus Villejoubert Villiers-le-Roux Villognon Vindelle Vitrac-Saint-Vincent Viville Vœuil-et-Giget Vouharte Voulgézac Vouthon Vouzan Xambes Yviers Yvrac-et-Malleyrand