Belluire

Belluire is a West commune with 217 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011 ) in the department of Charente -Maritime in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Belluire lies at an altitude of about 20 meters above sea level. inst at a distance of about 26 km ( driving distance ) south of Saintes and six kilometers south of Pons in the cultural landscape of the Saintonge. Other cities with impressive Romanesque churches are just a few kilometers away: Avy, Biron, Bougneau, Échebrune, Chadenac, Pérignac, Marignac and Others

Demographics

Even in the 19th century, the church had only between 170 and 260 inhabitants. Due to the proximity to the city and the Pons in rural areas comparatively low property prices, the population numbers are rising slightly again in recent years.

Economy

The agriculture ( grain and wine) still plays the biggest role in the economic life of the community, part of the wine-growing region of Cognac Fins Bois in the region. However, the tourism in the form of apartment rentals ( gîtes ) has become an important factor in the economic life of the community.

History

As can be inferred from the existence of a Romanesque church, Belluire been inhabited since the Middle Ages.

Attractions

The parish church of the village ( Église Saint- Jacques) is a rather nondescript building of the 12th century, whose apse has already been renewed a century later in Gothic styles. The walls of the nave were reinforced by buttresses around the same time. The west facade is dominated by a jewelry and tympanonlosen, multi-stepped Archivolts portal whose outer arc is covered over by a star wand. The levels above are almost without decor and deposed by a simple cornice and a frieze console each other; at the top there is a small bell tower from the time of the Renaissance. A small window opens to the nave, that should probably be made ​​to curve, but - according to the task of that plan - is now spanned by an open wooden roof. The retrofitted great Gothic pointed arch windows on the south side and in the apse ensure adequate exposure. The flat closing apse shows approaches of a ribbed vault. The church was recognized in 1973 as a monument historique.