Oiron

Oiron is a commune with 949 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Deux -Sèvres in the Poitou -Charentes; it belongs to the district Parthenay and Thouars Canton -1.

Location

The small town located about 13 kilometers southwest of Thouars and 56 kilometers northwest of Poitiers.

Neighboring communities of Oiron are Pas -de- Jeu in the north, Saint- Laon in the northeast, Arçay in the east, Brie and Saint- Jouin -de- Marnes in the southeast, Irais in the south, Saint- Généroux the southwest, Taizé in the west and Saint- Léger -de- Montbrun in the West.

Economy

Agriculture, crafts and retail are the main branches of industry in rural areas of France. The soils around Oiron are still regarded as particularly fruitful, and so here is about 20 % of French melons are produced.

Demographics

In 1973, the municipalities Bilazais, Brie and noize the community Oiron joined as " commune associé ". Brie came in 1983 from the Community again.

History

In the Middle Ages the small settlement Villa Orioni was called. For several centuries, the area belonged to the Counts of Thouars. The history of the place in the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, however, is closely linked to the family Gouffier. The French king Charles VII gave in 1449 the fertile lands Guillaume Gouffier, his royal valet ( valet de chambre du Roi ). Arthur Gouffier was chamberlain ( cham bellan ) Franz I and accompanied him on his Italian campaign. Impressed by the Renaissance art of Italy, he returned to France and began immediately with the construction of the castle and the church, both of which were, however, only completed by his son Claude Gouffier. In around 1700 the castle came as a retirement home in possession of Madame de Montespan ( 1640-1707 ), the ex- mistress of Louis XIV.

Attractions

  • The Castle (Château ) Oiron dates from the 16th century and is recognized as a monument historique. Its architecture is derived from the Renaissance style of the Loire castles; it has, however, built in a train and thus architecturally much more uniform than this. The interior of the castle is now a museum ( Renaissance paintings, modern art).
  • The Collegiate Church ( Collegiate ) Saint- Maurice d' Oiron is also recognized as a monument historique and was at the same time as the castle and built by the same builders. The architecture of the church is a mixture of late Gothic ( tracery ) and Renaissance elements ( dome with a lantern in the tower ). In the transept there are 4 tombs with sun figures ( Gisants ) by members of the Gouffier family, but who have suffered at the time of the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution arg.
  • The choir of the church of Sainte -Radegonde de Bilazais dates back to the 12th century; the nave was rebuilt in the early 18th century.
  • The church of Saint -Martin- les- Baillargeaux at Noize was also built in the 12th century; it is classified as a monument historique.
  • A megalithic dolmens in the district of La Pierre à Pineau is also recognized as a monument historique.

Gallery

Collegiate Church of Saint- Maurice

One of the Gisants in the collegiate church

Glass window in the Abbey Church

Ruins of the " Grand'maison " in Leugny

Church Sainte -Radegonde in Bilazais

Church of Saint -Martin- les- Baillargeaux in Noize

Poitou-Charentes Arrondissement Arrondissement of Bressuire Cantons of France Postal codes in France Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes Charles VII of France Roof lantern Effigy
615417
de