Saint-Denis-lès-Martel
Saint- Denis -les -Martel ( Occitan: Sent DAUNIS de Martel ) is a southern French village with 331 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Lot in the Midi-Pyrénées region.
Location
Saint- Denis -les -Martel is in the north of the Quercy and the department of Lot on the north bank of the Dordogne and consists of several hamlets and farmsteads. Up to the canton capital Martel is only about seven kilometers ( route ) to the west.
Demographics
In the 19th century Saint- Denis -les -Martel had at times almost 900 inhabitants; at the beginning of the 20th century, there were still good 700 The mechanization of agriculture and the resulting loss of jobs attended in the past for a continuous population decline to the low point in the 1970s.
Economy
Saint- Denis -les -Martel was and is still dominated by agriculture to a large extent, with the livestock (cattle, pigs, poultry) plays an important role. In autumn traditionally play truffles, nuts, chestnuts and fruit (apples, figs, etc. ) play an important role in providing people with food. Since the 1960s, tourism contributes in the form at the rental of holiday homes and apartments ( gîtes ) to the revenues of the place.
History
In the area of today's communities Vayrac and Saint- Denis -les -Martel played for a year after the battle of Alesia (52 BC), the last episode of the mentioned by Julius Caesar Gallic War, that feature was by now the unanimous opinion the researcher, the Celtic oppidum Uxellodunum, the last stronghold of the Celts from the tribe of Cadurker. Caesar attacked during his siege to a different tactic - he spilled the source that supplied the Celtic village with water.
Attractions
- The source Fontaine de Loulié was already under Napoléon III. exposed; Near Roman military paraphernalia were found. In 2001, a recent excavation campaign created large degree of protection for the correct identification of the place. The source is recognized as a monument historique since 2010.
- The approximately two kilometers north of the town and situated dating from the 18th century Manor Château de Termes now serves as a hotel or restaurant.