Ayen is a
commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
in the
Corrèze
Corrèze (; oc, Corresa) is a department in France, named after the river Corrèze which runs through it. Although its prefecture is Tulle, its most populated city is Brive-la-Gaillarde. Corrèze is located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region ...
department in the
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Nouvelle-Aquitaine (; oc, Nòva Aquitània or ; eu, Akitania Berria; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Novéle-Aguiéne'') is the largest administrative region in France, spanning the west and southwest of the mainland. The region was created by ...
region of central
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Ayennois'' or ''Ayennoises''.
The commune has been awarded two flowers by the ''National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom'' in the ''Competition of cities and villages in Bloom''.
Geography
Ayen is located some 20 km north-west of
Brive-la-Gaillarde and 7 km west of
Objat
Objat (; oc, Ajac) is a commune in the Corrèze department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The inhabitants are called Objatois and Objatoises.
Geography
Fifteen kilometres north-west of Brive-la-Gaillarde, the municipality of Objat is located in ...
. Access to the commune is by road D5 from
Saint-Robert in the west which passes through the village and continues south-east to join the D901. The D39 comes from
Perpezac-le-Blanc in the south and passes through the village before continuing north to
Juillac. The D17 from
Rosiers-de-Juillac in the north-west passes through the north of the commune and continues south-west to join the D901. The D95 goes south-west from the village to
Louignac and the D2 goes south to
Cublac
Cublac () is a commune in the Corrèze department in central France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Corrèze department
The following is a list of the 279 communes of the Corrèze department of France
France (), offic ...
. The D140 goes north-east from the village to
Vars-sur-Roseix. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Ayen Bas to the west of the village; Laval, Soulet, and Leyfourchie in the north of the commune; and Graschamp, Le Temple, Les Chaumonts, and Les Charnie in the south. The commune is mixed forest and farmland.
[Google Maps]
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The ''Roseix'' river forms the northern border of the commune as it flows east by south-east to join the ''Loyre'' south of Objat
Objat (; oc, Ajac) is a commune in the Corrèze department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The inhabitants are called Objatois and Objatoises.
Geography
Fifteen kilometres north-west of Brive-la-Gaillarde, the municipality of Objat is located in ...
. The ''Elle'' rises in the south of the commune and flows west then south forming the western border before it continues south to join the Corrèze
Corrèze (; oc, Corresa) is a department in France, named after the river Corrèze which runs through it. Although its prefecture is Tulle, its most populated city is Brive-la-Gaillarde. Corrèze is located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region ...
west of Terrasson-Lavilledieu. Other unnamed streams rise in the commune and flow northwards to join the ''Roseix''.
Neighbouring communes and villages
History
Ayen is a former county which was created as a duchy in February 1737 for Louis de Noailles
Louis de Noailles, 4th Duke of Noailles (21 April 1713 in Versailles22 August 1793 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye) was a French peer and Marshal of France. He was the son of Françoise Charlotte d'Aubigné, niece of Madame de Maintenon, and a nephew ...
.
One of the largest commanderies of the Knights of Malta in the region was in the commune at the Temple of Ayen.
In 1137 Ayen, as with all of Aquitaine
Aquitaine ( , , ; oc, Aquitània ; eu, Akitania; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Aguiéne''), archaic Guyenne or Guienne ( oc, Guiana), is a historical region of southwestern France and a former administrative region of the country. Since 1 Janu ...
, joined the kingdom of France through the marriage of Eleanor and Louis VII but, after the divorce from Eleanor, it came under English rule.
After two turbulent centuries during which the Limousin barons indulged in incessant wars, the English reoccupied Malemort and Ayen whose chateau was occupied notably by Richard the Lion Heart.
In 1415 the ''Brivistes''[Inhabitants of Brive-la-Gaillarde] supported by King Charles VI destroyed the Chateau of Malemort. The English survivors took refuge in the chateau at Ayen. The following year the peasants of the village laid siege to the chateau. After 17 days of blockade, overcome by hunger and thirst, the English surrendered. To prevent the fortress from falling into the hands of their enemies Jean I of Comborn, future chamberlain of Charles VII, received the mission to raze the Chateau of Ayen.
Ayen was one of the stages of a route from Segur which was known by Richard the Lion-Heart. There are still remnants of the passage of his troops through Pompadour, Juillac, Ayen, and Noailles. Richard ended his life killed at the Siege of Chalus in 1199.
Heraldry
Administration
List of Successive Mayors
Demography
In 2017 the commune had 714 inhabitants.
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage
*The panoramic view from the ramparts of Upper Ayen.
*The old village at Bas Ayen
*The Fountain called ''L'Homme qui crache''
Religious heritage
The Parish Church of Saint Madeleine contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
*33 door hinges and 2 door handles (14th century)
*A set of 6 Tombs embedded in the walls (14th century)
*A Tomb embedded in the wall (14th century)
*A Tomb embedded in the wall (14th century)
*A Tomb embedded in the wall (14th century)
*A Tomb embedded in the wall (14th century)
*A Tomb embedded in the wall (14th century)
*A Tomb embedded in the wall (14th century)
*A Bronze Bell (1604)[Ministry of Culture, Palissy ]
The embedded tombs (''enfeus'' in French) were reinstalled in the new church after the destruction of the old church in 1894.
Sights
* Arboretum de la Tuillère
See also
*Communes of the Corrèze department
The following is a list of the 279 communes of the Corrèze department of France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions ...
Bibliography
*''Ayen in Lower Limousin and Les Noailles during the Revolution'', Maurice Cassan, 1989, R. Dessagne, 279 pages
*''The Duchy of Ayen and Les Noailles, a land of Limousin'', Maurice Cassan, 1987, R. Dessagne, 245 pages
*''Short History of the Church of Ayen'', Maurice Cassan, 1986
Notes
References
External links
Ayen official website
The ''Green Station'' of Ayen
{{authority control
Communes of Corrèze