Saint-Méard-de-Gurçon

Saint- Méard -de- Gurçon ( Occitan: Sent Meard de Gurçon ) is a commune with 775 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the Dordogne in the Aquitaine region.

Location

Saint- Méard -de- Gurson lies at an altitude of about 75 meters above sea level. inst in the west of the department of Dordogne. Bergerac, the capital of the arrondissement, is about 27 kilometers to the southeast.

Demographics

The community had in the 19th century at times more than 1,500 inhabitants. As a result of the phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture, the population fell to their lowest point in decades.

Economy

In earlier times, the residents of the community lived as subsistence agriculture, which included the wine and the breeding of sheep and goats. Near the village there are some vineyards whose products via the Mont appellation Ravel (AOC ) are to be negotiated. but now tourism plays in the form of apartment rentals ( gîtes ) a more important role in the economic life of the community.

History

One of the Abbey of Baignes associated church is mentioned in the late 11th century. This was passed on to the Benedictine Abbey of Uzerche in 1122.

Attractions

• Despite their unadorned and solid looking Romanesque west tower, the parish church ( Église Saint- Médard ) is in key aspects, a late Gothic building of 15-16. or a redesign of the 19th century. Apse and nave have - compared to the Romanesque churches of the environment - over comparatively large maßwerklose pointed arch windows and are stabilized by upwardly tapering buttresses against the arch thrust. On later inserted in the ground floor of the tower - but unfortunately badly ruined - Portal with its almost free plastic Maßwerkspitzen enter the decorative joy and the craftsmanship of the late Gothic masons are most apparent. In Tympanonfeld there was formerly a preaching group from which the angel is still recognizable. The church was recognized in 1974 as a monument historique.
• Near the apse is the late medieval - resting on wooden pillars - market hall ( hall ) of the place.
• A few meters to the southwest of the church there is a covered wash area ( lavoir ) from the 19th century.