Agonges () is a commune in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 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 ar ...

. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Agongeois'' or ''Agongeoises''.

Geography

Agonges is located some 15 km north-west of Moulins and 50 km south of

Nevers Nevers ( , ; la, Noviodunum, later ''Nevirnum'' and ''Nebirnum'') is the prefecture of the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in central France. It was the principal city of the former province of Nivernais. It is ...

. It can be accessed by several roads: the D58 from Saint-Menoux in the south passes through the village and continues north, the D133 comes from the D953 in the south-west to the village and continues north-east to Bagneux, the D54 comes from Franchesse in the north-west to the village then continues east to join the D13, the D139 comes from Couzon in the north to join the D54 in the commune, and the D13 passes through the north-eastern corner of the commune. The commune consists entirely of farmland with numerous hamlets other than the village.Google Maps
/ref> The hamlets are: *Chateau de Beaumont *Chateau de Breuil *Chateau du Monceau *Fontenay *Grand Langeron *Grand Monceau *La Coulette *La Croix Peyre *La Loire *La Raymonerie *La Vallette *Lafont *Lalue *L'Augere *Lavault *Le Breuron *Le Lieu Jobier *Le Moulin Rateau *Le Pingon *Le Plaix *Les Brosses *Les Carrons *Les Fourches *Les Regnauds *Les Sacrots *Les Sodais *Les Tarnissats *Petit Langeron *Petit Monceau *Retif The Ours river flows through the commune from the south passing west of the village and continuing north to join the Burge which forms part of the northern border. There are small lakes in the north of the commune that link to the Burge. The Burge continues north to join the Allier south of Le Port Barreau.

Neighbouring communes and villages

History

In 1807 the former commune of Breuil merged with Agonges.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Agonges

Population

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: *The Chateau of Sacrots (17th century) *The Chateau of La Pommeraye (15th century) is in a manor park from the 18th century equipped with round towers in the style of the 15th century. *The Chateau of Augère (Middle Ages) has a medieval dungeon covered with a roof extended by a Gothic building in the 19th century and still has a moat. *The Domain of Epine (15th century), a rare example of a fortified domain from the 14th century in

Bourbonnais Bourbonnais () was a historic province in the centre of France that corresponds to the modern ''département'' of Allier, along with part of the ''département'' of Cher. Its capital was Moulins. History The title of the ruler of Bourbonnais ...

. *The Chateau of Echardons (1792) was rebuilt in 1792 and it remains the only castle with two towers and a

dovecote A dovecote or dovecot , doocot (Scots Language, Scots) or columbarium is a structure intended to house Domestic pigeon, pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be free-standing structures in a variety of shapes, or built into the end of a house or ba ...

. *The Chateau of Beaumont (1740) was rebuilt in 1740 on the site of a fortified castle of which only a tower and a dovecote remain. *The Chateau of Beaumont Park (20th century) *The Chateau of Echardons Park (20th century). The park is centred on a lane from the early 20th century. *The Park of La Tuilerie *The Park of La Pommeraie (20th century) *The Saulneraie Garden *The Laugère Park (19th century) ;Châteaux Picture Gallery Epine A.jpg, Domain of Épine A Epine B.jpg, Domain of Épine B Epine C.jpg, Domain of Épine C Epine D.jpg, Domain of Épine D Agonges L Augere.jpg, Château of Augère Augere 01.JPG, Facade of the Château of Augère

Religious heritage

The Church of Notre-Dame (12th century) is registered as an historical monument. It contains a Bronze Bell (1578) that is registered as an historical object.Ministry of Culture, Palissy ;Church of Notre Dame Picture Gallery Agonges - Eglise Notre-Dame -1.jpg, View of the Church of Notre Dame Agonges Eglise 01.jpg, Church of Notre Dame Agonges Eglise 02.jpg, Entrance to the Church Agonges Eglise 03.jpg, Detail on the west portal Agonges Eglise 04.jpg, Stone sculptures on the bell tower representing a hunt Agonges - Eglise Notre-Dame - Nef.JPG, The nave of the church Agonges - Eglise Notre-Dame - Chevet.JPG, The

chevet In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an ''exedra''. I ...

of the church

Notable People linked to the commune

* François Dalphonse (1756-1821), politician, MP for Allier, owner of Beaumont Castle where he died * Jean Bardin, radio host

References

{{authority control Communes of Allier Bourbonnais