Chénérailles

Chénérailles
Chénérailles
Administration
Country	France
Region	Limousin
Department	Creuse
Arrondissement	Aubusson
Canton	Chénérailles
Intercommunality	Chénérailles
Mayor	Bernard Robin (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	487–553 m (1,598–1,814 ft) (avg. 560 m/1,840 ft)
Land area1	7.77 km2 (3.00 sq mi)
Population2	736  (2008)
- Density	95 /km2 (250 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	23061/ 23130
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 46°06′47″N 2°10′34″E / 46.113°N 2.176°E / 46.113; 2.176

Chénérailles (Cheneralha in occitan) is a communein the Creuse department in central France.

Geography

A small town situated at the junction of the D997, D4, D7 and D55 roads, 12 miles to the north of Aubusson, on a hill dominating marshy areas from which rises a tributary of the Voueize.

History

Part of the medieval defences

Originally a fortified stronghold going back to before Roman times, there’s plenty of evidence found of Roman occupation too (urns, papryus ashes, coins and medallions of the emperors Maximilian, Gallien, Gordien and Licinius). The city was once surrounded by a strong wall, in the middle of which there was a castle (since destroyed). These days, the site is occupied by the parish church of St Barthélémy. Chénérailles suffered from the wars against the English early in the 15th century, being almost completely destroyed, but Jacques and Bernard of Armagnac, Comtes de la Marche, rebuilt the place between the years 1430 and 1440. The first of these Counts, Jacques, re-confirmed several privileges that had been granted to Chénérailles, in 1265, by Hugues XII of Lusignan. In 1592, towards the end of the French Wars of Religion, the city supported the Catholic League and was besieged for 8 months, only surrendering when they were starved out.

Population

Historical population of Chénérailles

1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2008
688	729	674	685	794	759	736

Sights

• St. Barthélemy church, dating from the thirteenth century.
• The nineteenth century chapel of Notre-Dame.
• The ancient ramparts.

See also

• Communes of the Creuse département

References

• INSEE

External links

• Chénérailles on the Quid website (French)