Balsac, Aveyron

Balsac
Part of Druelle Balsac
Location of Balsac
Map
Balsac is located in France
Balsac
Balsac
Balsac is located in Occitanie
Balsac
Balsac
Coordinates: 44°24′14″N 2°26′45″E / 44.4039°N 2.4458°E / 44.4039; 2.4458
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentAveyron
ArrondissementRodez
CantonVallon
CommuneDruelle Balsac
Area
1
15.57 km2 (6.01 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
631
 • Density41/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal code
12510
Elevation374–606 m (1,227–1,988 ft)
(avg. 577 m or 1,893 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Balsac (French pronunciation: [balsak]) is a village in the Aveyron department in the Occitanie region of southern France. It was merged into the new commune of Druelle Balsac on 1 January 2017.[2]

Geography

Balsac is located some 10 km north-west of Rodez and 8 km south-east of Saint-Christophe-Vallon, immediately west of Rodez–Marcillac Airport. Access to the commune is by the D598 which branches off the D57 west of the commune and passes through the village continuing to join the D840 south-east of the commune. The D626 goes north-east from the village to join the D840. The commune is entirely farmland.[3]

The Ruisseau des Parranies and its tributary the Ruisseau du Sauvage rise in the south of the commune and flow west then north-west, forming part of the western border of the commune, to join the Ruisseau de l'Ady west of the commune.[3]

Neighbouring communes and villages

[3]

Administration

List of Successive Mayors[4]

From To Name
1866 1868 Louis Bernat
1868 1874 Auguste Bernat
1874 1881 Théophile Guizot
1881 1888 Adrien Vareilles
1888 1907 Auguste Bernat
1907 1908 Joseph Sanhes
1908 1911 Ernest Mercadier
1911 1912 Etienne Malaterre
1912 1919 Henri Molinier
1919 1925 Théophile Palayret
1925 1935 Casimir Molinie
1935 1945 Etienne Bonnefous
1945 1947 Marcel Palayret
1947 1977 Etienne Bonnefous
1977 1995 François Pons
1995 2008 Alain Gabriac
2008 2017 Daniel Raynal

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Balsacois or Balsacoises in French.[5]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 591—    
1800 461−3.49%
1866 595+0.39%
1872 569−0.74%
1876 605+1.55%
1881 648+1.38%
1886 633−0.47%
1891 612−0.67%
1896 563−1.66%
1901 536−0.98%
1906 520−0.60%
1911 481−1.55%
1921 434−1.02%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1926 407−1.28%
1931 411+0.20%
1936 402−0.44%
1946 400−0.05%
1954 361−1.27%
1962 346−0.53%
1968 328−0.89%
1975 347+0.81%
1982 407+2.30%
1990 411+0.12%
1999 501+2.22%
2007 573+1.69%
2012 615+1.42%
Source: EHESS[6] and INSEE[7]

Sites and monuments

There are two sites which are registered as historical monuments:

  • The Ruins of the old Priory of Sauvage (13th century)[8]
  • The Chateau of Balsac (14th - 16th centuries)[9] belonged to a number of noble families, including the Glandières and the Faramonds, until 1780 when it came into the possession of the Grailhe family of Rodez. During the periods that followed, the chateau was owned by a series of illustrious personages. The Chateau currently operates as a guest house and table d'hote.[10]
  • The Parish Church contains three items that are registered as historical objects:
    • A Statue: Virgin and child (15th century)[11]
    • A Statue: Saint Antoine (15th century)[12]
    • A Statue: Saint Foy (15th century)[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2017, INSEE
  2. ^ Arrêté préfectoral 6 September 2016 (in French)
  3. ^ a b c Google Maps
  4. ^ List of Mayors of France (in French)
  5. ^ Le nom des habitants du 12 - Aveyron, habitants.fr
  6. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Balsac, EHESS (in French).
  7. ^ Populations légales 2012, INSEE
  8. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00093961 Ruins of the old Priory of Sauvage (in French)
  9. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA12000040 Chateau (in French)
  10. ^ "Home - Le Donjon du Château". Le Donjon du Château. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  11. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM12000016 Statue: Virgin and child (in French)
  12. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM12000018 Statue: Saint Antoine (in French)
  13. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM12000017 Statue: Saint Foy (in French)

Bibliography

  • Christian-Pierre Bedel, preface by José Monestier, Marcilhac, Balsac, Claravals, Moret, Muret, Nòuviala, Prunas, Salas-Comtals, Sent-Cristòfa, Valadin / Christian-Pierre Bedel e los estatjants del canton de Marcilhac, Rodez, Mission départementale de la culture, 2001, Al canton collection, 392 pages, ill., cov. ill.; 28 cm, ISBN 2-907279-52-1, ISSN 1151-8375, BnF 38803935q (in French)
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