Bressuire

Parthenay is a commune with 18,764 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Deux -Sèvres in the Poitou -Charentes. It is the district capital ( sous- préfecture ) of the same district, the capital of the canton of the same name. She is a member and the seat of the Local Government Association Communauté de communes Cœur du Bocage.

Location

Parthenay is located about 80 kilometers ( route ) northwest of Poitiers and about 65 kilometers south-west of Saumur. In this region, cultural influences from the southern Poitou crossed with those of the northern Anjou, whose center, Angers, about 80 kilometers to the north.

Demographics

The city is in the 1960s and 1970s several times by incorporations of formerly independent communities ( Saint- Porchaire, Beaulieu- sous- Parthenay, Breuil -Chaussée, Chambroutet, Clazay, Noirlieu, Noirterre, Saint- Sauveur, Terves and Boismé ) to its present size grown up; before that, they had about 6,000 inhabitants. Boismé occurred in 1983, again from the community network.

Economy

Since 1866, the city is connected to the railway network and experienced from then on a continuing population growth; today operate two rail lines about Parthenay. More important for the economic life of Parthenay are several smaller industries ( canning, precision engineering, wood processing, etc. ), which are located in different industrial zones ( zones industrial ) outside the city. As a sub-prefecture of the department of Deux -Sèvres Parthenay is an important administrative and training center.

History

The area around Parthenay was probably inhabited in Celtic and Gallo- Roman times. In writing Latin of the Middle Ages the city was called Castrum Berzoriacum; during this period was the establishment, depending on the viscounts of Thouars. The Hundred Years' War it was temporarily caught in the middle of the English and French; in the time of the Wars of Religion, it was destroyed. Also during the Vendée uprising in the time of the French Revolution was fought and was captured by both the Catholic and royalist troops of the insurgents as well as republican- revolutionary units.

Attractions

The ruins of the castle (château ) is located on a rocky rise in the west of the city. A weir is first mentioned in 1029. The construction of the castle and the huge enclosure made at the end of the 12th and in the first half of the 13th century; after which it was, however, still several times rebuilt and expanded - ogee arches and rectangular windows refer to the 15th and 16th centuries. In the revolutionary period it was set on fire and largely destroyed. It is registered as a monument historique since 1996. In the 19th century a new manor house was built in the style of historicism directly next to the old castle ruins.
The church of Notre -Dame dates back in parts to the 12th century; the late Gothic choir square area comes from the 15th century. Beginning of the 16th century, the huge tower was added, the already widely with the tower of - has been compared Cathedral Saint- Gatien in Tours - built about the same time; its upper end forms a dome with a lantern. The church is recognized as a monument historique since 1913.
The single- Chapelle Saint- Cyprien is a little off on the shores of Dolo. It is the oldest building in the city and still dates from the late 11th or the early 12th century and is - together with the small crypt - registered as a monument historique since 1937. The building is now used for cultural purposes from time to time ( concerts, cultural events, etc.).
The ruins of the late Gothic Chapelle du Petit Puy in the district is Terves and is registered as a monument historique since 1941.
The privately owned Château de Noirlieu from the 16th/17th. Century in the district is Noirlieu and is also registered as a monument historique since 1995.
The ground floor of the municipal museum presents changing exhibitions. The permanent exhibition upstairs shows local and regional ceramic etc.