Banassac

Banassac is a commune with 872 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Lozere department in the Languedoc- Roussillon region. It belongs to the Communauté de communes Kommunalverband Aubrac - Lot - Causse.

Geography

Banassac is in the Gevaudan on the western edge of the Languedoc -Roussillon region, on the River Lot and at the foot of the Causse de Sauveterre, between La Canourgue in the southeast and the hamlet Malbousquet belonging to Saint- Germain- du-Teil, in the north, 26 kilometers southwest of Mende. The E11, while La Meridian, and a department road through the municipality. The hamlet of Mont Ferrand, Pratnau, Le Viala and La Mothe belong to the community.

History

The municipal area traces of settlement in the Gallo -Roman Age ( 52 BC to 486 AD) found, among other things, the remains of a pottery. In the 19th century also were found coins from the Merovingian period (5th - 8th century).

The hamlet of Mont Ferrand was since the 11th century, a fief of the King of Aragon. The then major road of Mende in the former province of Rouergue led through the village. In the 13th century the village was connected to the Kingdom of France and the castle Mont Ferrand was the seat of the supreme command of the army of the Gevaudan, which it remained until the French Revolution ( 1789-1799 ).

Culture and sights

There is an archaeological museum on site, in the pottery and other finds from prehistoric and Gallo -Roman period are exhibited, which were discovered during excavations in the municipality.

In the hamlet of Mont Ferrand is a bridge over the Lot, which was built in 1691 in place of a medieval bridge and repaired in 1721. In 1935, she was entered in the Register of Monuments historiques addition. In the same hamlet stands the ruined castle of Mont Ferrand, which was at the same time as the original bridge, in the 13th or 14th century, built. Been preserved is a tower, with parts of a curtain wall, the foundations, a rectangular hall and a door. The castle is now in private ownership.

Economy

Major lines of business of Banassacois are agriculture, forestry and breeding of domestic sheep and fish. Local products are chestnuts, walnuts, salt meat and mushrooms.