Allassac Explained

Allassac
Commune Status:Commune
Image Coat Of Arms:Blason de la ville d ' Allassac (19) Corrèze-France.svg
Arrondissement:Brive-la-Gaillarde
Canton:Allassac
Insee:19005
Postal Code:19240
Mayor:Jean-Louis Lascaux[1]
Term:2020 - 2026
Intercommunality:Bassin de Brive
Coordinates:45.2592°N 1.4764°W
Elevation M:170
Elevation Min M:103
Elevation Max M:387
Area Km2:39.01

Allassac (in French pronounced as /alasak/; Occitan (post 1500);: Alaçac) is a commune in the Corrèze department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of central France.

The commune has been awarded three flowers by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.[2]

Geography

Located in the Brive Basin, the commune of Allassac is irrigated by three major rivers in the north–south direction: the Vézère and its tributaries the Loyre and the Clan which is a sub-tributary of the Corrèze.

Allassac, like many surrounding communes, is part of Vézère Ardoise Country and benefits from the label French Towns and Lands of Art and History.

The town of Allassac is located at the intersection of departmental roads D9, D25, D34 and D134. Allassac station on the Orléans–Montauban railway line has rail connections to Brive-la-Gaillarde, Uzerche and Limoges. It is located, in orthodromic distances, 6 kilometres east of Objat and 12 kilometres north-west of Brive-la-Gaillarde.

The commune is also served by departmental roads D57, D148, and D901.

Four kilometres to the south-east, the A20 autoroute allows direct access to Allassac through Exit 48.

Hamlets

Apart from the town the commune has the following hamlets:

[3]

Le SaillentIn Latin aqua saliens meaning "leaping water". The name evokes the rapids and a cascade into a deep gorge. It was called ad illo Salente in 904.

Neighbouring communes and villages

[3]

Toponymy

Allassac is derived from the Gallo-Roman word Alaciacus (the estate of Alacius). The first mention in the form Allassac was in the will of Aredius (Saint Yrieix). He called it Alaciaco in 947.

The village is identified as Alassac in the Grand Atlas of the kingdom of France established by Johannes Blaeu in the 17th century then in the Cassini map which represented France between 1756 and 1789. It was then Allassat until the beginning of the French Revolution before the final appearance of the current name in 1801.

History

The site of La Roche was inhabited as early as the Mesolithic period as evidenced by the Racloirs and Stone tools found in the area.

When it was occupied by the Romans Allassac already had several slate quarries that allowed rapid development of the town.

In 572 Saint Yrieix and his mother donated a farm and forges to Allassac which was part of Yssandon Country. In the Carolingian period there was already a fortified complex with a church and a house belonging to the abbots of Limoges as well as a stately home.

In 864 the relics of the Holy Innocents were transported to Allassac to protect them from Norman invaders.

In the Middle Ages Allassac became a lordship of the Abbey of Saint-Martial of Limoges. This was a co-lordship belonging among others to the Roffignac family who were called the "first Christians of Limousin".

In the 14th century the town had a second enclosure with 17 towers, 8 gates, and 6 castles. The Bishopric fought to protect its territory.

In the 16th and 17th centuries Allassac expanded due to the activities in the slate quarries and food curing despite several sieges. In 1569, Henry d'Anjou spent a few days in the commune with his armies. In 1580 Allassac was the fourth largest city in Lower Limousin (today's Corrèze current). The number of fortified noble houses was increasing.

In 1790, Allassac was briefly the capital of the canton before giving way to Donzenac in 1801.

In 1870 the population was 4,200 inhabitants and for over a century slate mining remained an important industry. The farmers were also slate miners but phylloxera ended this dual economy. The farmers then turned to fruit and tobacco cultivation while developing slate quarries with the new opportunity to ship to Paris by train.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors[4]

From To Name
1790 1791 Léonard Bonneylie
1791 1791 Jean Lascaux
1791 1792 Pierre Treuil
1793 1794 Jean Lascaux
1795 1795 M. Vervi
1795 1795 Jean Lascaux
1796 1797 Pierre Deyzac
1797 1797 Jean-Baptiste Bonneylie
1797 1800 Pierre Lascaux
1800 1812 Jean-Baptiste Bonneylie
1812 1826 Jean-Baptiste Alègre
1826 1830 Charles de Foucald[5]
1830 1831 M. Lasteyrie
1831 1836 Bertrand-Cyprien Boche
1836 1870 Mathieu Alègre
1870 1874 Henri Bardon
1874 1875 Mathieu Alègre
1875 1876 Louis Lavialle
1876 1884 Henri Bardon
1884 1896 Robert de Lasteyrie
1896 1912 Antoine Bourdu
1912 1928 Auguste Bourdarias
1928 1936 Albert Malfant
1936 1941 Ferdinand Marcou
Mayors from 1941
From To Name Party Position
1941 1944 Louis Boucharel
1944 1944 Joseph Roncajoli President of local liberation committee
1944 1953 Ferdinand Marcou
1953 1977 Ernest Bounaix
1977 1981 Jean Alliot Printer
1981 1983 Fernande Geneste Retired
1983 1995 Michel Sancier Carrier
1995 2014 Gilbert Fronty Schoolteacher, General Council member
2014 2026 Jean-Louis Lascaux

Population

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Allassacois or Allassacoises in French.[6]

Economy

Fruit-growing is well-developed in the commune, especially the Limousin apple (AOP), the peach, the plum, and the kiwifruit.

A vineyard called Coteaux du Saillant - Vézère has been replanted on five hectares on schistose soil. Allassac was famous for its vineyards until the end of the 19th century through the Saillant wine cellar. The most common varietals are Chenin, Sauvignon gris, chardonnay, merlot, and cabernet franc.

The breeding of Limousin breed calves raised by their mothers is also a common activity.

Cinema

In 1962 a scene for the film Le Chevalier de Pardaillan by Bernard Borderie was filmed at Pont du Saillant.

Sports

Volleyball: 3 teams are registered in the Union française des œuvres laïques d'éducation physique (UFOLEP) (mixed)

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

Other sites of interest

Religious heritage

Picture Gallery

Notable people linked to the commune

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Répertoire national des élus: les maires. data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 2 December 2020. fr.
  2. http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html Allassac in the Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom
  3. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Allassac,+France/@45.2439533,1.4708328,12841m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x47f8bf22ae33e8fb:0xb34421d79083ec4?hl=en Google Maps
  4. http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/resultcommune.php?id=815 List of Mayors of France
  5. resigned
  6. https://www.habitants.fr/correze-19 Le nom des habitants du 19 - Corrèze
  7. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
  8. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
  9. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
  10. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
  11. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
  12. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  13. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  14. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  15. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  16. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  17. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  18. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  19. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  20. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  21. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  22. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  23. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  24. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  25. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  26. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  27. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  28. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  29. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  30. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  31. Ministry of Culture, Palissy
  32. Ministry of Culture, Palissy