Gensac-la-Pallue

Gensac la Pallue is a southwestern French village with 1601 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Gensac la Pallue is located at about 16 meters above sea level. inst and only 2.5 kilometers from the south bank of the Charente. Approximately 8.5 km ( route ) to the northwest separate the city from the town of Cognac; Segonzac, the capital of Canton is located only about 5 kilometers southeast. The remarkable neighboring Saint -Brice is located about 7 kilometers away on the north shore of the river.

Demographics

In the first census in France in 1793, the city had 783 inhabitants; In the 19th century, it was up to the beginning of the phylloxera crisis (approx. 1865-1885 ), which in almost all wine-growing regions of France had a significant decline in the population resulted mostly around 1000. The population increase since the mid-20th century is due to the proximity to the town of Cognac and the construction of a housing development.

Economy

The agriculture and especially the wine played in the villages of the Charente always been an important role. While cereals and oilseeds (sunflower ) were mainly cultivated for its own needs, you could earn with the wine (and later brandy ) export to England, Scotland and other northern European countries good money, however with the wine growers of the lower part had to be satisfied merit. Today, the south bank of the Charente at Gensac la Pallue belongs to the location of the Grande Champagne within the large -growing region of Cognac wines. Even the wine or cognac Tourism plays a not unimportant role in the economic life of the community.

History

Possibly from the Roman period comes a discovered near an old stone crossroads in 1801 (La Grande Borne ) of about 1.15 height at which it was believed to identify the remains of an unknown script; others see in the rather stele shaped stone the scant remains of a Roman milestone, which usually had but a round cross section. Anyway - the stone has disappeared since the mid-19th century.

In medieval times - perhaps in Gallo-Roman period - the place was inhabited, as evidenced built in the 12th century church of Saint -Martin. Also a medieval castle already existed; but this was set in 1548 during an uprising of the people against the salt tax ( gabelle ) on fire. A new castle was built, in which was housed the seminary of Saintes since 1715; it was sold and demolished during the French Revolution as a national ( bien national). End of the 19th century began with the construction.

Attractions

Church of Saint -Martin

Other

• In the first half of the 17th century, the town center was about 2.5 kilometers west of the Logis de l' Éclopart built - a two-storey country house with slightly protruding corner projections, which is classified as a monument historique since 1986. The walls of the building are made of different stone material: For the quoins, door and window surrounds, and for some areas precisely carved stones were used, while the actual building is assembled from roughly hewn stone material, which was then plastered. The building is privately owned and is not visitable.
• The impressive building of the Château Moulin de Garde (also Gademoulin ) was re- erected in 1875 in Neo-Renaissance style; he is also classified as a monument historique. The entire property is privately owned and is not visitable.