Saint-Romain-de-Benet

Saint- Romain- de -Benet is a West commune with 1639 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente -Maritime in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Saint- Romain- de -Benet is located in the old cultural landscape of the Saintonge about 21 km ( driving distance ) south-west of Saintes or about 23 kilometers northeast of the Gironde estuary at Royan. The capital of the canton, Saujon, is only about 10 kilometers south-west; the neighboring community Thézac is about 6 kilometers to the southeast.

Demographics

Saint- Romain had in the first half of the 19th century resistant 1200-1700 inhabitants. Due to the phylloxera crisis in the wine and the mechanization of agriculture, the population increased since the second half of the 19th century more and more from up in 1940, the low point of 1,040 inhabitants was reached.

Economy

Agriculture and Viticulture determine for centuries the economic life of the village; Saint- Romain is one of the Bons Bois wine-growing region of Cognac. Since the 1980s, tourism has been added ( Rentals ) as a source of income.

History

The history of Saint- Romain- de -Benet goes back at least to Roman times; the Roman road from Saintes ( Mediolanum Santonum ) to Barzan ( Novioregum ) led past the place. The scanty ruins of a Roman military camp ( camp de César ) are seen close to the site. In the Middle Ages ( 9-10. Century) there was a fortified hill ( motte ) with a residential tower ( donjon ).

Attractions

• The single former priory of Saint- Romain is originally from the 12th century. However, they burned out already in medieval times and was just poorly reconditioned so that they stood in the 17th century, shortly before the collapse and had to be repaired again. In 1830 the tower was built and the west facade was completely redesigned in 1883. The typical of some churches in southwest France domes do only date from the year 1901 Despite the many extensions and alterations, the building in 1921 was recognized as a monument historique and makes -. , At least internally - a quite homogeneous impression. Noteworthy are the very ' primitive ' and earthy acting Romanesque capitals, but the very fact develop a special charm.

• About 500 meters south of the village is in the midst of the vineyards of the so-called Tour de Pirelongue, a more than 20 meters high, two-story, but closed on all sides tower of about 6.20 meters each side, which formerly ended in a cone- shaped tip. It is believed that it comes from Gallo- Roman times, and was built as a grave monument; some view the building also includes a signal tower, but speak to the closed design, the lack of stairs and the conical tip against it. The outside of the tower was formerly covered with safety in relief with stone or marble panels at a later date - were broken - probably by human hands. The building was already in 1840 - along with similar, but significantly worse preserved buildings in the area (see Authon - Ébéon ) - recognized as a monument historique.
• Set in private grounds amid a grove about one kilometer northwest of the Tour de Pirelongue is the occurrence of the Roman camp Camp de César. From the medieval castle mound ( motte ) with aufstehendem defensive and residential tower ( donjon ) is not much to see. Nevertheless, the site is registered as a monument historique since 1886.