Tesson

Tesson is a commune of 1024 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente -Maritime in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Tesson is located south of Saintes and about 13 kilometers northwest of Pons in the ancient cultural landscape of the Saintonge about 14 km ( driving distance ). The main town of the municipality Association, Gémozac, is located about eight kilometers south.

Demographics

In the first half of the 19th century the number of inhabitants was constantly about 600; after the phylloxera crisis caused in viticulture and the mechanization of agriculture in a steady decline. Due to the relative proximity to the cities of Saintes and Pons and the comparatively low rents and land prices, the population of Tesson has risen slightly again in recent years.

Economy

Agriculture and Viticulture determine for centuries the economic life of the place, also works as a commercial, craft and service center for the - acted hamlets and isolated farmsteads in the country - now largely disappeared. The bright limestone of Tesson was highly sought after and there was until 1960 in the vicinity of the place several quarries. The soils of the community belong to the growing area of ​​the Fins Bois Cognac of the wine region, but is grown in many areas of arable land and cereals (wheat, corn). Since the 1980s, tourism has been added ( Rentals ) as a source of income.

History

As the discovery of a car tomb proves the area was inhabited in pre-Roman times. In the Middle Ages the town was on a branch line of Jacob path, whereupon also indicate two figures of the western facade of the church, which are interpreted as pilgrims and brigands. The place was decorated in the 12th century with a Romanesque church; whether those in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) was affected is not known. In the 18th century the town flourished since Étienne Guinot, the lord ( seigneur ) of Tesson and in 1729 by Louis XV. raised to the Marquis of Monconseil to a new castle was built here, which (eg, Vaux- le -Vicomte ) vied in splendor with the palaces of the North - but it was completely destroyed during the French Revolution.

Attractions

• The Parish Church ( Église Saint- Grégoire ) is a building of the 12th century with a largely unadorned, but architecturally sophisticated Archivolts portal on the west facade, which is framed on both sides by a blind arch. The corners of the lower facade plane are reinforced by service bundle. The window in the middle area of the facade is laterally framed by paired double columns, which break up the otherwise bare wall surface. A completely unadorned pediment into which protrudes only the arch of the middle -level window, closes the facade towards the top. In Vierungsbereich the Church is extended by a transept to the north and south. The neo-Gothic tower on the north side is an ingredient of the late 19th century. The interior of the church nave is arched by a conical buoy; the crossing is, however, underpinned by a ribbed vault, which rests on powerful clustered piers with late Romanesque foliated capitals. The three apses close up each shoe from its dome. The church is recognized as a monument historique since 1910.
• In the center is a hard-to datierendes Hosanna Cross with a four-part, composite stone drums column shaft.
• The old hospital from 1777 was intended as a poor foster home and hospice. The cost of the construction and equipment (beds, furniture, clothes, etc.) totaled his time at the princely sum of 17,000 livres.
• Immediately next to it is one of the most original market halls of France. It is not intended as hall open on all sides, but only as one side open to an aisle. Erected in 1773 construction was used once a month until the year 1960.

Covered market

Hosanna Cross