Chénérailles

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

Chénérailles
Commune
The church in Chénérailles
Coat of arms
Location of Chénérailles
Chénérailles Chénérailles
Coordinates: 46°06′47″N 2°10′34″E
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Creuse
Arrondissement	Aubusson
Canton	Gouzon
Intercommunality	CC Marche et Combraille en Aquitaine
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Bernard Robin
Area ^1	7.77 km^2 (3.00 sq mi)
Population  (2017-01-01)[1]	760
• Density	98/km^2 (250/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	23061 /23130
Elevation	487–553 m (1,598–1,814 ft) (avg. 560 m or 1,840 ft)
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km^2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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

Year	Pop.	±%
1962	688	—
1968	729	+6.0%
1975	674	−7.5%
1982	685	+1.6%
1990	794	+15.9%
1999	759	−4.4%
2008	736	−3.0%

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

1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.