Macqueville

Macqueville is a West commune with 301 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente -Maritime in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Macqueville lies at an altitude of about 50 meters above sea level. inst about 17 km ( driving distance ) north-east of Cognac in the north of the cultural landscape of the Angoumois. The main town of the arrondissement of Saint -Jean- d'Angély located about 35 kilometers north-west; the picturesque small town of Matha is located only about 15 kilometers away in the same direction.

Economy

From a medieval document can be seen that in the area of wheat, wine, millet, parsnips, beans, hemp and flax were grown as crops for the production of fabrics, ropes or bags as food plants, however. Macqueville is located in the growing area of ​​the Fins Bois within the wine growing region of Cognac wines exclusively white Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard. In addition, cereals (wheat, maize) and animal feed are grown.

Demographics

Had the place in 1800 for about 600 inhabitants, the population after the phylloxera crisis at the end of the 19th century was already shrunk; the increasing mechanization of agriculture since the 1950s and the concomitant destruction of jobs leaving the population again fall significantly.

History

It is believed that the place-name of a nearby Via Agrippa, the ancient connection between Bordeaux ( Burtigala ), Saintes ( Mediolanum ) and Clermont ( Augustonemetum ) located Roman villa rustica derived. From a written document of the year 1686 shows that the place belonged to the Seigneur de Montespan, had 80 hearths and the soils are well suited for the cultivation of grain and wine.

Attractions

• The Romanesque church of Saint -Étienne is - despite its unspectacular at first glance the exterior - the most important attraction of the place. The west facade is largely unarticulated and unadorned; the Portalgewände has set four small columns and a serrated bow, a decorative element, which is repeated in the sheet travel of the West window. Below the pediment there is a simple console frieze. The portal on the north side, however, is adorned decided richer: Three pillars on each side bear the Archivolts, which are decorated with vegetable motifs abstract; the outer sheet running shows various mythical animals with Agnus Dei in the center, which an angel with a censer proves his respect. The final console frieze shows animal and human figures and monsters that are about to devour people. In contrast to the southern exterior wall of the north side is divided by large blind arches; the tower has a lateral spiral staircase ( vis), but remained unfinished at the top. The interior of the church nave surprised by a rich wall structure of double blind arches and half-columns template with beautiful Kapitellschmuck, mainly consisting of vines and foliage, but also some figurative motifs can be seen. Crossing, transept and choir have flat late Gothic stone arches instead of wooden roof truss in the nave. The church was classified as a monument historique in 1931.

North side

• From the former Château de Bouchereau Only a few remains are preserved, including the part of a facade with laterally sessile pepper-box.
• In 2004, a kind of theme park on ' wine ' (le cep enchanté ) was established.