Talmont-sur-Gironde

French commune
nomcommune=Talmont-sur-Gironde


région=Poitou-Charentes
département=Charente-Maritime
arrondissement=Saintes
canton=Cozes
insee=17437
cp=17120
maire=
mandat=
intercomm=Pays Royannais
longitude=-0.9067
latitude=45.5361
alt moy=
alt mini=0
alt maxi=24 m
hectares=444
km²=4.44
sans=83
date-sans=1999
dens=
date-dens=1999

Talmont-sur-Gironde is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.

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.

ights

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.

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).

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.

Famous people

*Louis II de la Trémoille, prince of Talmont.

ee also

*Communes of the Charente-Maritime département

References

"Based on the article in the French Wikipedia."

External links

* [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voie_de_Soulac_Littoral_Aquitain Voie de Soulac] (in French)
* [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Turonensis Via Turonensis] (in French)
* [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A8lerinage_de_Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle The pilgrimage of St James of Compostela] (in French)
* [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte_Radegonde Saint Radegonde] (in French)