Segonzac (Charente)

Segonzac is a southwestern French village with 2140 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente in the south-east of Poitou -Charentes region. Segonzac is the first French community, which was incorporated in the year 2010 by the European Cittaslow movement.

Location

Segonzac is located at a height of about 55 meters above sea level. inst about 10 kilometers south of the river Charente. The capital of the canton, Cognac is only 14 km in a north-westerly direction away. The places worth seeing Gensac la Pallue and Saint- Brice are 5.5 and 17 kilometers north-west.

Demographics

In the first census in France in 1793, the city had 2,550 inhabitants; the aftermath of the phylloxera crisis was the population of the late 19th and early 20th century to around 2,000.

Economy

In the Middle Ages the place functioned as a trade and craft center for agriculturally-oriented places in the area; next grain wine was grown here since Roman or Gallo- Roman period, however served primarily of self-sufficiency. Today the town is the center of Grande Champagne, a wine-growing region within the wine growing region of Cognac. Outside the town is a commercial area; the town itself is dominated by small craft ( bakers, butchers, etc.) and retail ( textiles, household goods, etc.).

History

Segonzac was already in the middle ages - inhabited - perhaps even in Gallo- Roman times. During the sectarian conflict between Catholics and Protestants in the 16th century, the church of the village was badly affected.

Attractions

• At the late Romanesque and early Gothic parish church of Sainte -Madeleine was built from the 13th to the 15th century. After suffering heavy damage during the Wars of Religion (1562-1598), which left the western façade and the tower undamaged, the chancel and the nave was remodeled completely rebuilt; thereafter the church was supplied cultic purposes again. The tower has a square cross-section and in its upper part two projectiles; a cone-shaped stone spire with a shed or shingle decor completes it up. The portal zone of the west façade is modeled on a Roman triumphal arch, but otherwise completely unadorned. The yokes of the three-aisled church interior are spanned by late Gothic vaults in Anjou- style, which are separated by significantly lower transverse arches. The church impresses with its spaciousness, which is further enhanced by the comparatively large tracery window. The church was the beginning of the 20th century fundamentally revised and approved in 1972 as a monument historique.
• The Château de Puyval is located about 2 kilometers west of Segonzac. The small three -winged building with a beautiful garden ground floor and a horseshoe-shaped curved staircase is originally from the 15th and 16th centuries; he was, however, about the middle of the 18th century - once again transformed - that is, shortly before the French Revolution. The castle is privately owned and is not open to visitors; however it was registered as a monument historique in 1978.
• The family estate Philibert ( Maison Philibert ) probably dates from the 15th and 17th centuries. It is in the district of Les Courades, is privately owned and has been included in the list of Monuments historiques 1986.
• In the town itself still has two interesting historical buildings from the 19th century: the Protestant church ( temple ) and a wash-house ( lavoir ) to a source.

Gable of the Protestant Church

Wash house ( lavoir )

Source