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Rancon

Coordinates: 46°07′54″N 1°11′02″E / 46.1317°N 1.1839°E / 46.1317; 1.1839
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rancon
The church in Rancon
The church in Rancon
Coat of arms of Rancon
Location of Rancon
Map
Rancon is located in France
Rancon
Rancon
Rancon is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Rancon
Rancon
Coordinates: 46°07′54″N 1°11′02″E / 46.1317°N 1.1839°E / 46.1317; 1.1839
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentHaute-Vienne
ArrondissementBellac
CantonChâteauponsac
IntercommunalityGartempe - Saint Pardoux
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Michel Creyssac[1]
Area
1
33.31 km2 (12.86 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
479
 • Density14/km2 (37/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
87121 /87290
Elevation185–337 m (607–1,106 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Rancon (French pronunciation: [ʁɑ̃kɔ̃]; Occitan: Rancom) is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France.

History

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The earliest known name for Rancon is Roncomagus; which comes from the Gallic and means 'market at the rock'. And the piers for the old bridge over the River Gartempe - which still exists - date from the Gallo-Roman era. This bridge is believed to have carried an important Gallo-Roman road.

The village also has a fortified church which featured in the Hundred Years War. As well as a 'Lantern of the dead' dating from the 12th century. The exact purpose of these lanterns is still a mystery.

There is also a Roman-style chapel outside the village, which houses a Gallo-Roman altar dedicated to Hercules. This chapel is open during the summer and was painted by English artists Fred Yates and Geoff Bunn both of whom lived in the area for a time.

Geography

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The river Semme forms the commune's northern border.

The river Gartempe forms part of the commune's eastern border, flows westward through the middle of the commune, then forms part of the commune's western border.

Inhabitants are known as Ranconniers.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.