Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Chérente-Marine''; ) is a Departments of France, department in the French Regions of France, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, on the country's west coast. Named after the river Charente (river), Charen ...
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Nouvelle-Aquitaine () is the largest Regions of France, administrative region in France by area, spanning the west and southwest of Metropolitan France. The region was created in 2014 by the merging of Aquitaine, Limousin, and Poitou-Charentes ...
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
of southwestern
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
.
Geography
Archingeay is located some 32 km south of Surgeres and 30 km east of
Rochefort
Rochefort () may refer to:
Places France
* Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, in the Charente-Maritime department
** Arsenal de Rochefort, a former naval base and dockyard
* Rochefort, Savoie in the Savoie department
* Rochefort-du-Gard, in the G ...
. 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
Saint-Savinien () is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France.Bords. The D122E1 also goes east from the village to Beaujouet. Apart from the village there are also the hamlets of:
*Charnais
*Cheniers
*Chez Bayeau
*Chez Brandeau
*Chez Brard
*Chez Pepin
*Chez Trancard
*Coulon
*Fontaudet
*L'Aiguille
*Le Mouton
*Le Tricholet
*Les Pavageauds
*Port L'Aubier
The commune is mixed forest and farmland.
The
Boutonne
The Boutonne () is a long river in the Deux-Sèvres and Charente-Maritime departments in western France. Its source is in the village of Chef-Boutonne (). It flows generally southwest. It is a right tributary of the Charente into which it flows n ...
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.Google Maps /ref>
Neighbouring communes and villages
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
Grape phylloxera is an insect pest of grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America. Grape phylloxera (''Daktulosphaira vitifoliae'' (Fitch 1855) belongs to the family Phylloxeridae, within the order Hemiptera, bugs); orig ...
there was manufacturing of pottery, bricks and tiles, and wine production.
Administration
List of Successive Mayors
Demography
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Arcantois'' or ''Arcantoises'' in French.
*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
corbel
In architecture, a corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood or metal keyed into and projecting from a wall to carry a wikt:superincumbent, bearing weight, a type of bracket (architecture), bracket. A corbel is a solid piece of material in t ...
s depicting life at the time. the main
Altar
An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of worship. They are use ...
and
Tabernacle
According to the Hebrew Bible, the tabernacle (), also known as the Tent of the Congregation (, also Tent of Meeting), was the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. Moses was instru ...
(18th century) are registered as an historical object.Ministry of Culture, Palissy
*A
Ferruginous
The adjective ferruginous may mean:
* Containing iron, applied to water, oil, and other non-metals
* Having rust on the surface
* With the rust (color)
See also
* Ferrous, containing iron (for metals and alloys) or iron(II) cations
* Ferric, cont ...
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
A lavoir (, wash-house) is a public place set aside for the washing of clothes. Communal washing places were common in Europe until industrial washing was introduced, and this process in turn was replaced by domestic washing machines and by s ...
(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
Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany.
The walled city on the English Channel coast had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth from local extortion and overseas adventures. In 1944, the All ...
, who founded the city of
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo language, Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany (administrative region), Brittany.
The Fortification, walled city on the English Channel coast had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth ...
, 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
Michel Eyquem, Seigneur de Montaigne ( ; ; ; 28 February 1533 – 13 September 1592), commonly known as Michel de Montaigne, was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance. He is known for popularising the essay as ...
Family who lived in the Chateau of the Valley.
See also
*
Communes of the Charente-Maritime department
The following is a list of the 462 communes of the Charente-Maritime department of France.
The communes cooperate in the following intercommunalities (as of 2025):