Lanas

Lana is a commune with 377 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011 ) in Ardèche, in the Rhône -Alpes. It belongs to the canton of Villeneuve -de-Berg and the Local Government Association Vinobre.

Geography

Lana is on the middle reaches of the Ardeche between the neighboring communes of Saint -Maurice d'Ardèche in the south and in the north Vogüé, 10 kilometers south of Aubenas and 10 kilometers northeast of Ruoms. Here ends the Karst river Auzon from the left in the Ardèche. The cantonal capital of Villeneuve -de-Berg is located 12 kilometers to the northeast.

History

The name corresponds to the patois term for sheep wool, because a main branch of Lanassiens was weaving before. It was not only woven wool, many houses served the silk culture.

The Castle of Lana was first documented in 1154, when Guillaume I., Bishop of Viviers, the monastery of Saint -André- le-Bas in Vienne gave the chapel of Saint- Eustache. The village was built around the castle in two stages. The first ring around the castle was also the origin of the town and was built in the 12th or 13th century. The second ring of fortifications was built in 1420 during the Hundred Years War ( 1337-1453 ). Later, the castle was destroyed. From 1247 to 1423 the village of Seigneurie of Chazeaux belonged. After that they belonged to the French Revolution the Seigneurs of Balazuc.

Lana received in 1846 the status of a municipality, before that it was part of Saint -Maurice d'Ardèche. At its founding, the parish had 607 inhabitants.

Personalities

The writer Henri Charrière (1906-1973) was buried in the cemetery of Lana.

Economy

Major lines of business of today Lanassiens (residents ) are orchards, vineyards and breeding of domestic sheep.