Saint-Chels

Saint- Chels ( Occitan: Sanch EL ) is a southern French village with 152 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011). It is located in the cultural landscape of the Quercy in the Lot department in the Midi-Pyrénées region.

Location

Saint- Chels lies between the rivers Lot and Cele at a height of about 350 meters above sea level. inst on the southwestern edge of the Massif Central. The nearest town, Figeac is about 25 km ( driving distance ) in a north-easterly direction away.

Demographics

In the 19th century the place had at times more than 500 inhabitants. As a result of the phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture has declined, the population continuously since reaching its low point of the last few decades back.

Economy

In skin -Quercy agriculture was operated primarily for self-catering, which included the wine until the 19th century, but was abandoned almost entirely after the phylloxera crisis. Today - in addition to the livestock and poultry sectors - tourism in the form of apartment rentals ( gîtes ) a major role in the economy of the community.

History

Several Neolithic megalithic tombs ( dolmen ) in the area suggest that the area was inhabited as early as the 4th millennium BC. In the Middle Ages and the early modern Saint- Chels was part of the basic rule ( seigniory ) of Larnagol. The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) the town was repeatedly besieged by English forces.

Attractions

• Several megalithic grave sites are found in the wooded area. Because of the limestone used the most, however, are already collapsed badly weathered and partially. Several of these Neolithic buildings can be explored on a ten -mile loop trail; some of them were recognized in the years 1988/89 as Monuments historiques.

Dolmen du Mas de Pezet

Dolmen du Pech d' Agaïo

• At some field edges are stone huts ( Caselles ) of dry masonry.
• The local parish church was built in the 19th century.