Talmont-sur-Gironde
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Commune of Talmont-sur-Gironde |
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| Location | |
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| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Poitou-Charentes |
| Department | Charente-Maritime |
| Arrondissement | Saintes |
| Canton | Cozes |
| Intercommunality | Pays Royannais |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 0 m–24 m |
| Land area¹ | 4.44 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
83 |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 17437/ 17120 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
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Talmont-sur-Gironde is a French commune in the Charente-Maritime département in the Poitou-Charentes region.
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[edit] Geography
The village lies about 15 km south of Royan, on a small promontory which dominates the Gironde Estuary. It appears to be ‘perched’ on this rocky outcrop, in the way that it occupies every square millimetre of space. Tiny beaches can be found at the base of the fortifications, which mostly are sheer from the sea. Inland there is marshy country and a small waterway runs alongside the south wall of the village.
[edit] Sights
The village has received the accolade of being designated one of The Most Beautiful Villages in France.
The village is known for its show of hollyhocks, which intrude on the tiny pedestrian-only streets between the small houses.
[edit] The church
The church of St Radegonde was built in 1094. The structure appears quite 'squat' and is Romanesque in character. The church was a resting place for the Pilgrimage of Saint James of Compostela on the via Turonensis, because the pilgrims crossed the Gironde at this spot (Voie de Soulac Littoral Aquitain).
[edit] History
The enclosed and fortified village was founded around the church in 1284, according to the plans of the ancient bastides, on the orders of Edward I of England. During the Hundred Year War which divided England and France, Talmont became a strategic stake. In 1652, the village was destroyed by the Spanish.
[edit] Famous people
- Louis II de la Trémoille, prince of Talmont.
[edit] References
- This article was initially translated from the Wikipedia article Talmont-sur-Gironde, specifically from this version.
[edit] External links
- Voie de Soulac (in French)
- Via Turonensis (in French)
- The pilgrimage of St James of Compostela (in French)
- Saint Radegonde (in French)
