Claix (Charente)

Claix is a West commune with 958 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Claix is located about 19 km ( driving distance ) south-west of Angoulême in the cultural landscape of the Angoumois at an altitude of about 110 meters above sea level. d M. The small stream Claix springs on the territory of the municipality.

Demographics

In the first half of the 19th century, the church had always around 500 inhabitants; due to the phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture, the population then dropped continuously to about 400 residents. Due to the proximity to the city of Angoulême, significantly lower property prices, the population numbers in recent decades have increased significantly again.

Economy

The residents of the community lived for centuries of agriculture; the bottoms of the community belong to the Fins Bois Cognac of the vineyard, but the paragraphs in expensive wine fires in recent decades tended to shrink, so that the wine industry today plays no significant role.

History

In 1533, the reformer Jean Calvin held for a longer time in the house of the priest of Claix. Here possibly did the idea for his later published writing Institutio Christianae Religionis ( " instruction in the Christian religion ").

Attractions

• The Romanesque parish church ( Église Saint -Christophe ) is a building of the 12th century, especially impressed by his almost castle-like crossing tower. The slit-like windows and the largely unadorned western facade contribute to the overall impression of the fortified church. Only the apse has slightly larger windows that are outside especially emphasized by little columns set yet; below the eaves runs a figural frieze console. The nave interior of the church shows a slightly pointed barrel vault and a small dome in the Vierungsbereich. The church building has been classified as a monument historique since 1920.

Facade

Head consoles to the apse

• Created in the late medieval castle (château ) was renewed in the 18th century fundamentally in the style of the time. In the 19th century, was built on the site of a dairy operation ( laiterie ).
• The source of the stream Claix is located in a wooded area about a kilometer west of the village. She has a flagstone floors and an almost ground-level, easy inwardly sloping stone retaining wall and served both as a cattle trough ( abreuvoir ) as well as non-covered wash area ( lavoir ).