Tournon-d'Agenais

Tournon-d’Agenais
A general view of Tournon-d’Agenais
Coat of arms
Tournon-d’Agenais
Location within Nouvelle-Aquitaine region  Tournon-d’Agenais
Coordinates: 44°24′03″N 0°59′46″E / 44.4008°N 0.9961°ECoordinates: 44°24′03″N 0°59′46″E / 44.4008°N 0.9961°E
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Lot-et-Garonne
Arrondissement	Villeneuve-sur-Lot
Canton	Tournon-d’Agenais
Intercommunality	Communauté de communes du Tournonnais
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Jean-Pierre Lacam
Area^1	21.26 km^2 (8.21 sq mi)
Population (2006)^2	801
• Density	38/km^2 (98/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code	47312 / 47370
Elevation	103–261 m (338–856 ft)
^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.

Tournon-d'Agenais is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France.

History

Tournon-d'Agenais was found in 1271 by the Philip III (1245 –1285), King of France from 1270 to 1280 and son of the King Louis IX, commonly known as Saint Louis. At the heart of the urban planning in this Bastide is the typical central square (Place des Corniers) with stone houses above arched stone arcades. This reflects the planners’ intent to create a vital place for social and commercial exchanges among the new residents. ^[1] In addition, the halle (market building), the town house and the maison of Bayle are located in this central square, showing a centralization of municipal institutions. In the center of the square there is also the town wall, which was a symbol of a major struggle during Middle Ages for ample supply of water. The castle of Tournon d'Agenais destroyed in 1212, was noted by the English in 1283 and played an important role during the Hundred Year War.^[2] In the other side of the main square, a few streets away, there is the bishop's house called 'Abescat'. This was built during the 13th century and was the parish Church of Tournon until this church was destroyed during the French Wars of Religion (1562–98).

See also

• Communes of the Lot-et-Garonne department

References

1. "An Introduction to Bastides (PPT), at About The Bastides". John Reps Collection. Cornell University Library. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
2. "Histoire et patrimoine". Tournon d'Agenais. Retrieved 14 June 2016.