Échillais

Échillais is a municipality with 3326 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente -Maritime in the Poitou -Charentes region of France. The municipality is part of the Unité urbaine de Rochefort.

Location

Échillais is in the northwest of the historic province and cultural landscape of the Saintonge about 1.5 kilometers south of the Charente and only about six kilometers ( route ) south of the town of Rochefort. Up to Saintes is about 33 km to the southeast, where lies the picturesque ruins of the Abbey of Trizay after about four kilometers.

Demographics

At the beginning of the 19th century Échillais only had about 300 inhabitants. Since then, the population grew continuously, due primarily to immigration as a result of - is due to significantly lower rents and land prices - compared to the town of Rochefort.

Economy

Agriculture played a dominant role in the economic life of the church centuries ago. This is one of the Bois ordinaires et communs wine-growing region of Cognac, but because of the slump in sales in expensive brandies and wine total vines are hardly planted; the farmers in the area have returned to 'normal' agriculture. Échillais now has two industrial zones ( zones d' Activités ) - one each in the north and south of the community.

History

The existence of a Romanesque church suggests a long occupation of the site.

Attractions

Church of Notre -Dame

Other

  • The Arnodin by Ferdinand on 29 July 1900, after 27 months of construction, completed Schwebefähre Rochefort leads from Rochefort to Échillais on the Charente. It is one of three still existing transporter bridges ( ponts - transbordeurs ) of Arnodin. In use, however, this historical monument is now only for pedestrians and two-wheelers.
  • The Maison du Transbordeur in a former factory building near the Transporter Bridge is dedicated to using wall charts the history of this peculiar steel structures, of which there are only eight world.
  • A Toy Museum ( Musée du Jouet ancien ) is in possession of about 15,000 historic toys or figurines. Here you will find toy soldiers as well as car and airplane models. It is a private museum that can be visited but following registration.

Partner community

Poitou-Charentes Charente-Maritime Arrondissement Arrondissement of Rochefort Cantons of France Postal codes in France Charente (river) Saintes, Charente-Maritime Romanesque art Soubise (Charente-Maritime)
252707
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