Roche-Saint-Secret-Béconne

Roche -Saint- Secret - Béconne is a commune in the Drôme department ( Rhone-Alpes region ) with an area of ​​3,323 acres and 385 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011), who call themselves " Rochois ". The village lies at an altitude of 362 meters above sea level in the southern foothills of the Alps at the foot of the " Montagne de la Lance " ( 1338 m) and on the banks of the River Lez. Distance to Montelimar in the North West is 40 km. This southern part of the department contributes due to its location in the border area between the Dauphiné and Provence, the Tourist label " Drôme povençale ".

The town's original name La Roche -Saint- Secret led on the one hand from the peculiar rock formations " Rocher des Aures " from the other. Of the chapel Saint- Secret, which is in the valley of the former village " La Roche " near the palace of the same name As the now deserted village " Béconne " was affiliated with La Roche -Saint- Secret in the course of 1973 carried out merging the municipalities, the place took the name of Roche -Saint- Secret - Béconne.

History

The archaeological sites in the caves of the " Rocher des Aures " evidence of a settlement in the Bronze Age. Furthermore, were uncovered remains of a Gallo- Roman settlement.

In the 13th century existed in today's municipal area four villages that were owned by different masters:

• La Roche, located in a somewhat aloof and above the modern village center valley, in 1252 " Castrum Sancti Roche Segre ," 1339 " Rochesinsecret ", later called " Roche -Saint- Secret" and was a fief of the family of Montauban.

• Béconne, north of the village on the left bank of the Lez, was established and secured in the 13th century and in 1253 mentioned as "Villa Béconna ", a name which derived from the Gallic " Becco " French " bec " ( beak ) and to denote a hill between two rivers. It was a fief of the lords of Vesc comps.

• Alençon, located Béconne opposite on the right bank of the Lez, was a fief of the lords of Mévouillon -Montauban. ;

• Blacon, south of the village, owned by the Lords of Poitiers - Valentinois.

Blacon was - probably because of its difficult access location - abandoned in early 14th century by the Poitiers - Valentinois. In the 17th century it was owned by Hector d' Armond de Forez, Lord of Mirabel and Blacons. He sold on June 18, 1642 but continued to lead the name Blacons and transferred it to be of the Bishop of the acquired good " Le Devès " in the parish of Mirabel ( Mirabel -et -Blacons today ).

Alençon seized during the Wars of Religion (1562-1570) on the contrary to La Roche and Béconne position for the Protestants.

The old village of La Roche lost over time, settled by further below settled in the present village of Roche -Saint- Secret.

The villages of Alençon and Béconne were completely abandoned in the early decades of the 20th century. The massive rural exodus finally gave the reason for the merger of the municipalities of La Roche Saint Secret and Béconne.

Attractions

In the former village of La Roche:

• The reinforced with towers and loopholes " Château de la Roche " (private property)
• The Romanesque Chapel of St. Secret ( 12th century), in the cemetery near the palace. Following several landslides increased the ground of the cemetery, so that the floor of the chapel 1.20 meters lower than the business environment today. For this reason, the chapel was rebuilt several times and was in the 17th century a new portal. The massive walls of both the short nave as the vaulted choir have embrasure similar openings.
• The chapel of Ste. Madeleine, who was integrated in the center in a private home (private property).

In the abandoned village since 1927 Béconne:

• The ancient fortifications, with walls, gates, towers
• The ruins ( 12th/13th c.)
• The old houses
• The chapel Notre- Dame-de- Béconne (14th century, restored in 1921 ) just outside the village, near the cemetery and in the middle of the fields. The house of God, even Notre- Dame-de- l'Annonciation or Notre- Dame-des Fistules (Our Lady of the fistulas ), because, in accordance with oral traditions went miraculous healings here, the aims of which every year on Whit Monday held pilgrimage. It served until 1800, when the parish church.

In the likewise deserted village Alençon:

• The massive square tower or donjon Tour d' Alençon ( 12th century) with its Romanesque mullioned windows, surrounded by the remains of a defensive wall built in the 14th century
• Château d' Alençon, formerly a fortified rural complex (15th century ), which was transformed from the family Boulogne, the former lords of Alençon, in a castle in the Renaissance style (private property).

On a hill to the south of La Roche:

• The decayed Donjon Tour de Blacon (14th century) and the remains of a circular wall (private property)

Economy

Main sources of income are agriculture and livestock, especially cattle. Crops grown wine and lavender, orchards provide mainly apricots. Additional income will be generated by tourism, truffle occurrence and beekeeping.