Vagnas

Vagnas is a commune with 539 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in Ardèche, in the Rhône -Alpes. It belongs to the canton of Vallon -Pont d'Arc and the Communauté de communes Kommunalverband les Grands sites of the Gorges de l' Ardèche.

Geography

Vagnas located in the southwest of the Rhône -Alpes region, about 8 kilometers south-west of the river Ardèche, 26 kilometers southwest of Pierre Latte and 7 kilometers south-west of the cantonal capital of Vallon -Pont d'Arc, between the neighboring communities Labastide -de -Virac in the northwest and Barjac in southeast. Barjac is already in Languedoc -Roussillon. The hamlet of La Trouillère belongs to the municipality.

History

Around 1100 Vagnas was first mentioned. The time of Louis XIII. (1601-1643) was razed the city walls. 1793 Vagnas received the status of a municipality and in 1801 the right to local self-government in the wake of the French Revolution.

Attractions

On the D579 is a Miliarium ( Roman milestone ) from the 2nd century, the 1717 a Christian cross was grafted. He belongs to the community and was registered in 1974 in the Additional List of Monuments historiques (historical monuments ). The Miliarium bears an inscription which is illegible. It stood on a Roman road that ran along the right bank of the Rhone along Valence ( Valentia) to Nimes ( Nemausus ) and Alba -la -Romaine ( Alba Helviorum ). This Roman road is called in French Voie d' Antonin or Voie Helviens ( way of Antoninus, way of the Helvetii ). It corresponds in part to the D579.

On the parcel Le Mona animal 1941 archaeological excavations were carried out in which it was discovered a medieval necropolis. For further excavations in 1979 were discovered the remains of a Romanesque church, which belonged to a priory, which in turn belonged to the monastery of Saint -Victor in Cruas. Beneath the ruins of the church were found the foundations of a small Carolingian building. An inscription states that the priory was founded by a Viscount Maubert. The age of the panel is controversial, it could date from the 10th, 11th or 12th century. Near the ruins is a wash-house ( Lavoir ), which was restored a few years ago.

The museum Urbain - Thévenon finds of the excavations are on display, including pottery from the necropolis and the baptismal font from the Priory.