Briant, Saône-et-Loire

Briant is a commune in the French department of Saône- et- Loire of the Burgundy region. In the municipality of 228 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011). The unit is called Branovium, Brianeum or Brienna in medieval documents place is some as the historical center of brionnais.

Location

Briant lies at an altitude of about 350 meters above sea level. inst in the ancient cultural landscape of the brionnais in the south of Burgundy. The place is located about 25 km ( driving distance ) southwest of Charolles or about 72 kilometers west of Mâcon. The main sites of Saint- Julien -de- Jonzy and Charlieu are only ten or 20 kilometers to the south. Marcigny to the Briant once owned, is located about 13 kilometers to the west.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had at times over 500 inhabitants, so that the parish church had to be enlarged.

Economy

The hilly region of Briant has always been dominated by agriculture, with livestock ( Charolais cattle ) plays a major role. The place itself functioned until the early 20th century as a craft, trade and service center for several hamlets and isolated farmsteads in the area.

History

The place is associated with the root of the Branovii in conjunction, of which Julius Caesar in his work, The Gallic War ' ( De Bello Gallico ) speaks, but no remains have been discovered from Roman times. In 1103 the church and place were passed from landlord ( seigneur ) of Semur the Cluny Abbey, which they in turn assumed the Priory of Marcigny.

Attractions

Apse, transept and crossing tower of the former parish church nave date from the 11th/12th. century; they are built from a mixture of breaking and dressed stone and largely unadorned. The now three-aisled nave and the west facade was rebuilt in the 19th century in the Romanesque Revival styles.