Carcans

Carcans is a commune with 2246 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the Gironde department in the region of Aquitaine. The community is relative to the area of the municipality is the second largest city in the district Lesparre -Médoc. In Carcans there are beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and at one of France's largest natural freshwater lakes, the Lac de Hourtin et de Carcans. Therefore, the municipality in the winter population of about 2000 and in the summer up to 30,000.

Geography

Carcans located in southwest France in the Médoc directly to the Bay of Biscay, 45 kilometers north- west of Bordeaux, the seat of the prefecture of the Gironde department, 26.3 km south west of Lesparre -Médoc, headquarters of the sub-prefecture of the arrondissements, and 19.6 kilometers southwest of Saint -Laurent -Médoc, the capital of the canton, on an average height of 33 meters above sea level. The Mairie stands at a height of 21 meters. Neighboring communities of LCarcans are Hourtin in the north, Saint -Laurent -Médoc in the northeast, southeast and fallow in Lacanau in the south. The municipality has an area of ​​17540 hectares.

The municipality is one of the type Cfb climate zone ( Köppen and Geiger after ) assigned: Warm Temperate rain climate ( C ), fully wet ( f), the warmest month below 22 ° C, at least four months above 10 ° C ( b). There is a maritime climate with moderate summer.

History

Previously, the main source of economy of Carcans was mainly the extraction of resin from the large pine forests. Through investments in tourist facilities, however the seaside tourism has now supplanted the extraction of resin as the main source of income at the lake and the sea.

Culture and sights

Carcans took in July 2012 for the first time at the " Night of the Churches ", an event which is organized by the French Bishops' Conference. Main attractions in the Church of Saint -Martin is a Grade II listed statue of Saint James of the 18th century and the sculpture of the head of John the Baptist from the 16th century. Head and beard of John the Baptist are made of horsehair. The Church of Carcans was first mentioned in the Middle Ages as ecclesia carcanno. It belonged from 1099 to the monastery of Sainte -Croix in Bordeaux. From the 13th century, the church served as the abbey church of a priory. It has been because of one of the former pilgrimage routes to Santiago. This is supported by the altar, the statue, and above all, a brotherhood that existed around 1661. The medieval church was demolished in the 19th century but in 1869 and replaced by a neo-gothic building.

Economy and infrastructure

In 2009, 37.8 per cent of workers were employed in the town, the others were commuters. 12.4 percent of workers were unemployed. There is a primary school in the community.

Local products

The municipal area protected geographical indications apply ( IGP) for beef ( boeuf de Bazas ), lamb ( Agneau de Pauillac ) Poultry ( Volailles the country), domestic ducks for foie gras ( Canard à foie gras du Sud -Ouest ), ham ( Jambon de Bayonne ) and vegetables asparagus ( Asperges des sables of the country). The beef comes from cattle bred Bazas Bazadaise.