Cressensac

Cressensac ( Occitan: Cressençac ) is a southern French village with 409 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Lot in the Midi-Pyrénées region.

Location

Cressensac is located in the extreme north of the Quercy and the department of Lot, close to the Correze. Up to the canton capital Martel is about 13 km ( driving distance ) in a southeasterly direction.

Demographics

In the 19th century Cressensac had at times almost 1,200 inhabitants; at the beginning of the 20th century there were about 1,000. The mechanization of agriculture and the resulting loss of jobs attended in the past for a significant population decline to the low point in the 1990s.

Economy

Cressensac was and is still dominated by agriculture to a large extent, with the livestock (cattle, pigs, poultry) plays an important role. Since the 1960s, tourism contributes in the form at the rental of holiday homes and apartments ( gîtes ) to the revenues of the place.

History

The municipal area have some testimonials ( dolmens, menhirs ) obtained from the time of the megalithic cultures. In the year 51 BC, some 20 kilometers away Celtic oppidum Uxellodunum was occupied by the troops of Caesar. Later the settlement to the Visigoths and Franks was before she came in the 7th and 8th centuries, the Duchy of Aquitaine, which had to be temporarily cede it to the Carolingians. In the 11th century, the Viscount of Turenne were the lords ( seigneurs ) of the area that are free provided their territory by the year 1738 almost independently governed and the inhabitants of many taxes and fees. 1738 but they were heavily in debt and sold their territory for 4.2 million livres to the French crown.

Attractions

• The three-nave parish church of Saint- Bartelemy dates from the 19th century.
• A small market with a resting on wooden racks roof is located immediately next to the church.
• The Château de Cressensac dates back to the 18th/19th. Century. It is privately owned.
• The Château de Chaussenege just outside the town is an impressive palace of the 16th century; He also is in private ownership.