Saint-Martin-l'Ars (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ maʁtɛ̃ laʁ]) is a commune in the Vienne department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of western France.

Saint-Martin-l'Ars
The church of Saint-Martin
The church of Saint-Martin
Location of Saint-Martin-l'Ars
Map
Saint-Martin-l'Ars is located in France
Saint-Martin-l'Ars
Saint-Martin-l'Ars
Saint-Martin-l'Ars is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Saint-Martin-l'Ars
Saint-Martin-l'Ars
Coordinates: 46°13′13″N 0°31′53″E / 46.2203°N 0.5314°E / 46.2203; 0.5314
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentVienne
ArrondissementMontmorillon
CantonCivray
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Xavier Diot[1]
Area
1
41.76 km2 (16.12 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
376
 • Density9.0/km2 (23/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC 01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC 02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
86234 /86350
Elevation132–169 m (433–554 ft)
(avg. 146 m or 479 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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The Clouère flows north-northwest through the middle of the commune. The Clain flows northwest through the south-western part of the commune and crosses the village.

Geology and terrain

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The commune is part of the region known as the Civraisien and has a beautiful landscape of hills.

Hydrography

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202 ponds have been identified across the municipality (out of 30,000 recorded in the Poitou-Charentes region). They were created by humans, especially to meet the water needs of people (community ponds), livestock or after extraction (clay, marl, millstones). Rich in botanical life they play a major role for amphibians (newts, frogs), reptiles (snakes) and dragonflies. They are a symbolic element of the rural heritage and contribute greatly to the maintenance of biodiversity in both the plains and the woodlands.[3]

Climate

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The climate is oceanic with mild summers.

Toponymy

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The village's name comes from Saint Martin of Vienne, bishop of Vienne in the 2nd century, the evangelist of Poitou. The suffix "ars" means "burnt".[4]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 748—    
1975 599−3.12%
1982 515−2.14%
1990 417−2.60%
1999 389−0.77%
2007 409 0.63%
2012 384−1.25%
2017 386 0.10%
Source: INSEE[5]

History

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During World War II, the battle line crossed the commune, from 22 June 1940 to 1 March 1943, leaving the settlement in the free zone and a small part of the territory of the municipality in the occupied zone.[6] On 14 July 1941, the population showed their strength of will by celebrating the National Day, which was banned in 1940, around a bonfire and singing the Marseillaise.

In 1945, to celebrate the liberation and return of the Republic, a lime tree was planted as a "tree of liberty".[7]

Abbey of Notre-Dame de la Réau

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Abbey of Notre-Dame de la Réau

The Abbey of Notre-Dame de la Réau, located on the left bank of the Clain in a secluded corner on the borders of Poitou and the Lower Marche, was founded in the 12th century by canons following the rule of St. Augustine.[8][9][10]

It was a very important house, the influence of which, as a result of its many subsidiaries, extended far beyond the region as far as Anjou and Brittany. It was dissolved during the French Revolution.[10]

Having reviewed the history and archaeological survey in 1937, François Eygun wrote in the Poitevin Press in 1970 that this was "one of the most prestigious monuments of the Haut-Poitou".[11][12]

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.
  3. ^ Mares répertoriées par maille, d’après cartes IGN, dans l’Inventaire des mares de Poitou-Charentes - Poitou-Charentes Nature 2003
  4. ^ Le Patrimoine des communes de la Vienne en 2 tomes – Edition FLOHIC – 2002 – ISBN 2-84234-128-7
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  6. ^ Jean-Henri Calmon, Occupation, Résistance et Libération dans la Vienne en 30 questions, Geste éditions, coll. « 30 questions », Jean-Clément Martin (dir.), La Crèche, 2000, 63
  7. ^ Robert Petit, Les Arbres de la liberté à Poitiers et dans la Vienne, Poitiers, Éditions CLEF 89/Fédération des œuvres laïques, 1989, p. 225.
  8. ^ Jean-Henri Calmon, Occupation, Résistance ..., p 21
  9. ^ François Eygun, L'Abbaye Notre-Dame de la Réau, OSA: étude historique et archéologique; thèse secondaire de doctorat ès Lettres, coll. Mémoires de la Société des antiquaires de l'Ouest, 3e série, t. 15, 1938 (prix du président Henri de Montégut-Lamorélie de l'École des chartes), p. 544
  10. ^ a b François Eygun, L’Abbaye de la Réau, Poitiers, 1956, p. 24
  11. ^ Poitou gothique, Yves Blomme, éditions Picard, 1993,ISBN 978-2-7084-0439-7
  12. ^ v