Coursan
Coursan is a commune with 6050 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Aude department in the Languedoc- Roussillon region. It belongs to the district of Narbonne, is the capital of the canton Coursan and member of the Association of Municipalities Grand Narbonne.
- 3.1 Notre Dame
- 4.1 Road Access
Geography
Coursan is located on the Aude, seven kilometers northeast of the city center of Narbonne, and about 13 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast.
The table level community area includes a portion of the lower Audetales and extends north to the border of the département of Hérault. The crisscrossed by numerous irrigation and drainage ditches territory of the municipality is treeless and is characterized by wine growing.
The old town on the right bank of the Aude is characterized by narrow streets, south and east of the core, the building becomes lighter. North of the Aude be found scattered farms and wineries, one of which Ricardelle, Pontserme, Coutelle, Auriac du Bosc, Capsol, Prat you Raïs, Le Vié and Lastours are named.
Coursan bordered to the north by Montel ( point of contact ) and Poilhes ( contact point), on the northeast by Nissan -lez -Enserune, to the east by Salles- d'Aude, on the southeast by Vinassan, on the southwest by Narbonne and to the northwest by Cuxac -d ' Aude.
History
The name Coursan first appeared in 1048 in Latin and Occitan records of local Seigneurie, which were the Viscount of Narbonne tribute. Located in the northwestern city of core Rue des infidèles (Street of infidels ) probably dates from the period of Islamic expansion, was held as a strip of territory around Narbonne until the year 759 of the Umayyads.
Frequent floods one was forced to the dikes on the Aude constantly to increase and stabilize. So today are the near-shore areas of Coursan below the Aude level. In addition, numerous weirs and discharge channels have been created, the great Umfluter north of Coursan.
On April 14, 1907, also came in Coursan to protests against the effects of the wine - price decline. They were part of the winemakers Rebellion in Languedoc.
Demographics
With 6050 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) is Coursan the sixth largest in the 438 municipalities in the department of Aude.
Attractions
Church of Notre -Dame
After the bell tower of the choir of the church is undoubtedly the oldest building in Coursan. Emerging from a smaller church, the Gothic chancel arch still preserved, dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. It is similar to the vaults of the former abbey church of Notre -Dame de Lamourguier in Narbonne and in the abbey of Sainte -Marie de Fontfroide. The sacristy behind the chancel was built in the late 19th century mid-18th century, the nave and side chapels. The church is classified as a monument historique.
Economy and infrastructure
While earlier in Coursan the cultivation of grain and sheep farming dominated, the main livelihood is the vineyard today. The order Cuxac -d'Aude cultivated wine belong to an origin protected wine region. The Community winery SCV was founded in 2000 La Cave de Coursan et d' Armissan still produces high-quality varietal wines, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Viognier, Colombard, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Pinot.
Coursan is the site of a gendarmerie brigade, two primary schools ( écoles primaires ) and a College.
Transport links
By Coursan parallel to Autoroute A9 trunk road running from Beziers to Narbonne leads that crosses in the Aude Coursan on one of Henri Gautier built 1690 finished stone arch bridge. The Coursan station on the western edge of the town lies on the railway line from Bordeaux to Sète on Narbonne.
Personalities
- Fourès Henry, born in Coursan 1948, French composer, musician and music historian