Touvre

Touvre is a municipality with 1150 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Charente region of France in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Touvre is about 30 meters above the karst spring of the same name, and only about twelve kilometers long river in the ancient cultural landscape of the Angoumois at a height of about 70 meters above sea level. inst and about ten kilometers ( route ) east of the city of Angoulême.

Demographics

In the 19th century, the population increased steadily from about 275 in 1800 to about 500 inhabitants in 1900. Due to the proximity to the city Angoulême and comparatively cheaper property prices, the population of the community has grown steadily in the 20th century.

Economy

Agriculture still plays the most important role in the economic life of the community. Otherwise, determine retail, craft and small service businesses, the economic affairs of the village.

History

Touvre lies on an already used in ancient trade route between Angouleme and Limoges. Around the year 1050 built Guillaume Taillefer, the Bishop of Angoulême to opposite of his brother, the Count Fulk the claims of ownership to put a castle to fight back. After his death, however, most of the episcopal lands fell into the hands of the counts. The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), the region belonged to Angoulême times for possession of the French crown; then it fell into the hands of the English, but they lost to the Marshal Louis de Sancerre in 1387 again. In the shadow of the castle developed the place whose existence is already occupied by its Romanesque church of the 12th century.

Attractions

• The St. Mary Magdalene parish church ( Église Sainte -Madeleine ) is in on a hill above the lake of Touvre source close to the ruins of the old castle. It is a fortified outward and largely unadorned building from the second half of the 12th century. The west facade of the church is determined by a three-arched triumphal arch scheme on the ground floor, where the two side arches - as usual in the region - are formed as a blend portals. The tower of the church with its covered observation deck and a small weir bay ( bretèche ) above the west window underline its defensive character. The nave interior is covered by an inserted in 1845 brick vault. Parts of the church building are recognized as a monument historique since 1949.
• The two-storey Logis de la Lèche dates from around 1700 and consists of a living area (corps de logis ) with lateral corner pavilions; in the roof Front Lukarnenfenster are embedded. It is privately owned and is recognized as a monument historique since 1994.
• The municipal area there are several springs and streams, some of which were used as a washing area ( lavoir ) as well as several former water mills, two of which are further used as fish farms.