Charmant

Charmant is a municipality with 331 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the south west of France departments of Charente in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Charmingly situated at an altitude of about 140 meters above sea level. inst about 22 km ( driving distance ) south of Angouleme in the ancient cultural landscape of the Angoumois in the area of the Charente, close to the Perigord.

Demographics

In the first half of the 19th century, the community had 600-820 inhabitants; due to the phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture, the population then dropped continuously from the lows in the 1970s.

Economy

The residents of the community lived for centuries as a self-catering from agriculture; the bottoms of the community belong to the Bons Bois of the vineyard Cognac, but the paragraphs both expensive brandies as well as wine in recent decades tended to decline, so that the wine industry in the region does not play a significant role. Revenue from tourism, especially the rental of apartments ( gîtes ) are, on the other hand added as source of income since the 1960s.

History

The place was on an old Roman road ( Chemin BOISNE ), the Saintes ( Mediolanum Santonum ) and Périgueux ( Vesunna ) joined together. In the 11th and 12th century there existed a Commandery of Knights Templar, which passed into a priory after its destruction ( 1312).

Attractions

• The nave of the Romanesque parish church ( Église Notre -Dame), with its small and high windows is still attributed to the late 11th century when the building was the chapel of a Knights Templar Commandery; However, the decorated richly structured by arcades and with Konsolfiguren apse and the transept with its side apses are clearly the work of the 12th century, ie the high Romanesque. The square central tower and its octagonal spire were repaired after major storm damage in 1843 and partially renovated. The otherwise rather simple design portal of the church presents an unusual, designed with a column Fries and a diamond rod Archivolte; in Portalgewände and in the left- blind arcade of which Templar crosses are incised. The single, from an open roof truss spanning the nave ends in a chancel arch, which carries over to the crossing and the transepts, which form the three apses together a triumphal arch scheme. The lower part of the central apse is divided by seven blind arches, three of which are durchfenstert; be found in the dome remains of Baroque frescoes. The lateral apses inside and out without articulation, and each has only a small east window. The church is already recognized as a monument historique since 1846.
• Right next to the church is the so-called Château de Charmant - the former Templar Commandery and the main building of the former priory with a remarkable Renaissance facade and rectangular windows with mullions dates in its present form from the 16th century. The two featured columns flanked portal is surmounted by a balcony-like attachment with coats of arms and a transverse oval oculus. The complex of buildings in private ownership in 1925 was recognized as a monument historique.

Portal zone

Portal