Roullet-Saint-Estèphe

Roullet -Saint- Estèphe is a West commune with 4024 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Roullet -Saint- Estèphe is situated about 15 km ( driving distance ) south-west of Angoulême in the cultural landscape of the Angoumois at a height of about 50 meters above sea level. inst. , the Charente limits the municipality in the north.

Demographics

In the 19th century the population of the community of about 900 rose to at times over 1400; the phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture led to a decrease in population to about 1,200 in the first half of the 20th century. The proximity to the Greater Angoulême and the relatively low real estate prices made ​​for a further increase in population in recent decades.

Economy

The residents of the community lived for centuries of agriculture; in the early modern period were added several water-powered grain, oil and paper mills. The soils of the community belong to the Fins Bois Cognac of the wine region, but is rarely cultivated wine in the densely populated region around Angoulême.

History

Roullet (old name Roreto or Rolero ) was one of the early and high Middle Ages, long time to land the abbey of Saint- Cybard in Angoulême until the 12th century, first the Angoulême Cathedral, and later was affiliated to the Abbey of La Couronne.

Attractions

• The Romanesque parish church of Roullet ( Église Saint- Cybard ) is a single-nave building of the 12th century, its central tower and west facade of the late 19th century were thoroughly restored by Paul Abadie; especially the 1872 from a lightning strike largely destroyed crossing tower was not true to the original, but still impressive restored, the four Ecklaternen represent free additions of architects with their shingle imitations. The west facade shows in the portal zone, a triumphal arch scheme with lateral Blend portals that repeats to some extent in the arcade zone above it. The in externals rather inconspicuous building in convincing the inside by a rich architectural structure by half-columns templates already in - covered by cupolas - nave, but mainly grouped in also covered by a Tromp dome area of the crossing to early clustered piers. Choir bay and apse are surrounded by arcades with small window openings. Noteworthy is the rich Kapitellschmuck with vegetable and figurative motifs. The church is overall assessed as reduced image of the Cathedral of Angoulême and was classified as a monument historique already in 1840.
• The church in the village of Saint- Estèphe ( Église Saint- Estèphe, 45 ° 34 '46 "N, 0 ° 0' 53 " O45.5794444444440.014722222222222 ) is a building of the 12th and 13th centuries with an imposing central tower include original shingle imitation. This accompanied by two lateral buttresses extremely simple archive olten and pillarless west portal leads into the nave and barrel vaults covered with Gurtbogenunterzügen nave; spans only over the crossing on a dormant squinches dome. Set into the north wall of the nave is an exceptional Romanesque font, its front panel is adorned with a dentil frieze and a paw cross. The church building was classified as a monument historique in 1923.

• The two storey country residence Domaine de la Forêt ( 45 ° 33 ' 34 "N, 0 ° 0' 20" O45.5594444444440.0055555555555556 ) comes from the first quarter of the 19th century. It is privately owned and is recognized as a monument historique since 1992.
• The megalithic Dolmen de la Boucharderie is also located on the territory of the district of Saint- Estèphe (45 ° 33 '30 " N, 0 ° 1' 32 " O45.5583333333330.025555555555556 ). Built of massive blocks of limestone building is classified as a monument historique since 1927.