Archingeay

Archingeay
Commune
The town hall in Archingeay
Location of Archingeay
Archingeay Location within France Show map of France Archingeay Location within Nouvelle-Aquitaine Show map of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Coordinates: 45°55′54″N 0°42′17″W / 45.9317°N 0.7047°W / 45.9317; -0.7047
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Charente-Maritime
Arrondissement	Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Canton	Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Intercommunality	Vals de Saintonge
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Rémi Lamare
Area 1	16.61 km2 (6.41 sq mi)
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Highest elevation	47 m (154 ft)
Lowest elevation	2 m (6.6 ft)
Population  (2023)	765
• Density	46.1/km2 (119/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	17017 /17380
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Archingeay (French pronunciation: [aʁʃɛ̃ʒɛ]) is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France.

Geography

Archingeay is located some 32 km south of Surgeres and 30 km east of Rochefort. Access to the commune is by the D114 road which branches off the D739E south of Tonnay-Boutonne and continues south through the commune and village to Saint-Savinien. The D122 also goes south-west from the village to join the D124 which continues to Bords. The D122E1 also goes east from the village to Beaujouet. Apart from the village there are also the hamlets of:

The commune is mixed forest and farmland.

The Boutonne river forms much of the north-western border of the commune with a network of irrigation canals covering the western part of the commune. Le Pepin stream rises south of the village and flows west into the Boutonne.

Toponymy

The name may come from the name of the Roman general Arcantius.

History

This commune had an Abbey which has completely disappeared.

In the past, Archingeay enjoyed a flourishing period, mainly due to a hot spring near the Chateau of the Valley to the west of Archingeay and renowned for its therapeutic properties (digestive diseases, skin etc.). Among other famous spa guests, the Roman general Arcantius took its waters.

Until the attack of phylloxera there was manufacturing of pottery, bricks and tiles, and wine production.

Administration

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (April 2021)

List of Successive Mayors

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Arcantois or Arcantoises in French.

Sites and Monuments

• The Romanesque Church of Saint Martin (12th century) is registered as an historical monument. It has sculptures at the south door and both interior and exterior corbels depicting life at the time. the main Altar and Tabernacle (18th century) are registered as an historical object.
• A Ferruginous Fountain known by the Romans for healing properties (skin diseases). In the Gallo-Roman period, the Roman general Arcantius spent time at the spa.
• A Lavoir (Public Laundry) dating from Roman times.
• The Trésors de Lisette Museum which presents family life in the early 20th century with one of the largest exhibitions of old culinary objects in Europe. It opens during June, July and August from 3 p.m. (15:00) to 7 p.m. (19:00).

Notable People linked to the commune

• Saint Malo, who founded the city of Saint-Malo, died at Archingeay.
• Arcantius, a Roman general who took the waters of a thermal spring at La Vallée which was renowned for its therapeutic properties
• The Montaigne Family who lived in the Chateau of the Valley.

See also

• Communes of the Charente-Maritime department

References

External links

• Archingeay on the National Geographic Institute website (in French)
• Archingeay on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website (in French)
• Archingeay on the 1750 Cassini Map

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archingeay.