Sainte-Radegonde (Charente-Maritime)

Sainte -Radegonde is a West commune with 548 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente -Maritime in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Sainte -Radegonde lies at an altitude of about 20 meters above sea level. inst in the historic cultural landscape of the Saintonge about 24 km ( driving distance ) northwest of Saintes and 16 kilometers southeast of Rochefort.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had always 600-760 inhabitants. The phylloxera crisis and the mechanization of agriculture led to a population decline, which could be stopped in the last few decades because of its proximity to the cities of Saintes and Rochefort, and the comparatively low rents and land prices in Sainte -Radegonde.

Economy

For centuries agriculture for the purpose of self-sufficiency of the population played the largest role in the economy of the community. But was grown in area since the Roman time, wine was distilled since the early modern period and exported to northern Europe ( esp. England ). Sainte -Radegonde is one of the Bois ordinaires et communs of the vineyard Cognac, but most grapes are processed into wine and Pineau des Charentes for sales problems with cognac brandies.

History

On the history of the place is no information available. The presence of an early Romanesque church can, however, suggest that the site was inhabited at least since the Middle Ages.

Attractions

• The nave walls of the parish church ( Église Sainte -Radegonde ) still show masonry largely unworked rubble, suggesting an early construction period (11th century) points. The west facade, however, shows precisely hewn stone material ( Haustein ) and a Romanesque portal - it probably dates from the 12th century. The flat shot choir area has much larger windows with flamboyant tracery - he seems to belong as well as the towering above features double bell gable around 1500. The nave is covered by an open wooden roof; the retracted apse has a ribbed vault. At the chancel arch clearly the dimensions of an older arch are still visible. A capital of the apse shows a so-called " three faces " ( Trifrons ) - a well-known since ancient motif. The church is recognized as a monument historique since 1996.
• Also about a kilometer west of the village standing, however, strongly ruined megalithic tomb ( dolmen du Bois de la Grosse Pierre ) was recognized in 1993 as a monument historique.