Saint-Michel (Charente)

Saint -Michel (formerly Saint -Michel- d'Entraygues ) is a municipality with 3287 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Charente region of France in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Saint -Michel is located on the south bank of the Charente in the cultural landscape of the Angoumois at a height of about 50 meters above sea level. inst and about six kilometers ( route ) west of the city of Angoulême.

Demographics

In the 19th century the population grew to more than 1,300 of only about 350 inhabitants in 1806, in 1896. Due to the proximity to the city of Angoulême and comparatively cheaper property prices has increased the population of the parish in the 20th century to over 3,000 residents.

Economy

In the late Middle Ages and the early modern period, some water mills (also for paper making ) operated by the river. The small area of the municipality is almost completely built; Retail, craft and smaller service providers determine the economy of the town nowadays.

History

On the territory of the municipality a few prehistoric finds have been made. The local church was built in 1137 by former Abbot Lambert of about six kilometers south Benedictine monastery of La Couronne, who had been ordained a year earlier as Bishop of Angoulême. Nearby there was a cemetery on the Santiago Pilgrim found their final resting place.

Attractions

• The church dedicated to the Archangel Michael is an octagonal building with a ring of smaller apses; the former main apse is highlighted by six selected columns. The column-free, but under collected by arched ribs dome of the building has a diameter of about 13 meters and opens in the middle of a lantern tower with about one meter inside diameter, which - in addition to eight narrow windows - exposed the dome round. The finely crafted capitals of the interior show vegetabische and flechtbandartige forms. A highlight of Romanesque sculpture is the tympanum above the entrance, where the Archangel Michael - Making haste with outstretched wings and a flowing robe - a killing with a lance on the ground writhing dragon. Unusual is the side view of the angel reminds its far long stride to the resultant about the same time the prophet Isaiah from the former site of the abbey church of Souillac. Also decorated with vegetable motifs and Flechtbandmustern Archivolts are noteworthy. The church is recognized as a monument historique since 1840. It was extensively restored in the 1850s by Paul Abadie, who later became the architect of the Sacré -Coeur de Montmartre. The separate bell tower ( clocher ) is an addition from this period.
• The Logis de Puygrelier originally dates from the 16th century but was subsequently rebuilt several times. Receive is still a stair tower with a guard tower ( échauguette ).

Partner community

• Durach, Swabia