Le Douhet
Le Douhet is a West commune with 701 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente -Maritime in the Poitou -Charentes.
Location
Le Douhet is located about 50 meters above sea level. inst at a distance of about twelve miles ( driving distance ) northeast of Saintes in the midst of the cultural landscape of the Saintonge. The town of Cognac is situated 32 kilometers to the southeast.
Demographics
The population of the town has grown significantly since the late 1990s because of its proximity to Saintes and because of the construction of a new housing development.
Economy
The agriculture ( grain and wine) still plays the largest role in the economy of the small community, which belongs to the wine region of Fins Bois in the Cognac region.
History
About the history of Le Douhet specific information is not published. The history of the place, however, is likely to be closely linked to the Saintes.
Attractions
- The parish church of Saint -Martial is - at first glance - a simple Romanesque building from the 12th century, the walls of which was stabilized in the 15th century by massive buttresses, and a tower with a stone spire cultivation and four Eckfialen. On closer inspection, however, unfolds a rich architectural decoration. The west facade is built in two levels: The lower level consists of the multi- stepped back porch with side - slightly smaller - Blend portals ( triumphal arch motif). The left portal Blend is overlapped by a eckständigen buttresses of the 15th century. The tympanonlose Archivolts portal shows on his inner arc four angels who are focused on a Agnus Dei in the center. Two angels hold the mandorla, the other two swing censers. The following two arches are decorated with abstract and vegetable and flechtbandartigen designs. In the outer arch apostles and evangelists find. John ( beardless ) and James the Elder. ( Pilgrim's staff ) are clearly visible. Almost the entire surface of the tympanum is occupied by three arcades, of which only the center having a large window. The nave interior is covered with a pointed barrel vault with Gurtbogenunterzügen. The significantly smaller apse is delimited by a chancel arch, the lower part was widened by removing the half-columns templates from the nave. On the ceiling of the Apsiskalotte was in the 18th century grisaille painting with rays, clouds, putti and with a mean triangle, in which the four Hebrew letters יהוה (YHWH = Yahweh) - the so-called Tetragrammaton - are written, applied as a trinity. A fresco from the late 15th century shows martyrdom ( St. Andrew's Cross ) of an unknown bishop, the Pope is watching a likewise unidentified. The capitals of the church interior are carved with mythical creatures and vegetable motifs. The church was classified in 1915 as a monument historique.
- Surrounded by a beautiful park Castle Le Douhet is a three-storey building with a slightly projecting square corner pavilions from 1680, at the planning may also Vauban was involved. It was built for the local feudal lord ( seigneur ) Renaud de Pons. Worth seeing are next to the park twice balustradengesäumte external staircase and the so-called lantern room (French salon de la Lanterns ). The castle is privately owned and was made in 1969 as a monument historique under protection. The gardens are also a historical monument since 1969.
- Just outside the resort is the tunnel-like and nearly six feet high inside carved into the mountain Roman aqueduct from the 1st century AD to see that ( Mediolanum Santonum ) supplied once the town of Saintes with fresh spring water. Interesting is the fact that on both sides of the water-conducting channel remained free elevated walkway, which allows the drinking water was not dirty when walking or cleaning the tunnel than necessary. The Tunnelaquädukt was made in 1840 as a monument historique under protection.