Bagneux () is a commune of the

Allier Allier ( , , ; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region that borders Cher (department), Cher to the west, Nièvre to the north, Saône-et-Loire and Loire (department), Loire to the east, Pu ...

department in the

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (; AURA) or ; or ; . is a Regions of France, region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into e ...

region of central

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 ...

. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Bagnolais'' or ''Bagnolaises''.

Geography

Bagneux is located some south-east of

Sancoins Sancoins () is a Communes of France, commune in the Cher (department), Cher Departments of France, department in the Centre-Val de Loire Regions of France, region of France. Geography An area of farming and associated light industry comprising a ...

and north-west of Moulins. Access to the commune is by the D287 from Couzon in the west which goes to the village. The D101 comes from Aubigny in the north-west and passes through the commune and the village continuing south-east to Montilly. The D13 from Couzon to Montilly passes through the south-west of the commune. The D133 comes from

Aurouër Aurouër is a Communes of France, commune in the Allier Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Aurouërois'' or ''Aurouëroises''. Geography Aurou� ...

in the east and passes through the village before continuing south-west to

Agonges Agonges () is a commune in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Agongeois'' or ''Agongeoises''. Geography Agonges is located some 15 km north-west of ...

. There are several hamlets in the commune: Les Amiel, Saligny, and Ray. There are large forests in the west of the commune with the eastern half mostly farmland.Google Maps
/ref> The Allier river flows north-west along the eastern border of the commune although it does not correspond exactly to the border and small portions of the commune are on the right bank. Many streams rise in the commune and flow eastwards to join the Allier. There are also several small lakes in the commune, both natural and artificial, which feed the streams.

Neighbouring communes and villages

Géoportail

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

History

The Chateau of Belleperche, located on the territory of the commune, was besieged in 1370 during the

Hundred Years War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a conflict between the kingdoms of England and France and a civil war in France during the Late Middle Ages. It emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy of Aquitaine and was triggered by a c ...

Free companies A free company (sometimes called a great company or, in French, ''grande compagnie'') was an army of mercenaries between the 12th and 14th centuries recruited by private employers during wars. They acted independently of any government, and were ...

of Gascon mercenaries and marauders working for the English seized it in 1369 and retained as prisoner the Dowager Duchess of Bourbon, Isabella de Valois. The castle was besieged by the troops of the

Dukes of Bourbon Duke of Bourbon () is a title in the peerage of France. It was created in the first half of the 14th century for the eldest son of Robert of France, Count of Clermont, and Beatrice of Burgundy, heiress of the lordship of Bourbon. In 1416, wit ...

and

Burgundy Burgundy ( ; ; Burgundian: ''Bregogne'') is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. ...

. The "Free companies" were expelled, but they took the duchess with them as hostage.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive

Mayors In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

Population

Sites and monuments

*The Romanesque Church of Saint Paul (12th century) is registered as an historical monument. The Church contains three items that are registered as historical objects: **A Commemorative Plaque for the founding of Masses by Priest François Bouquereau (1679) **A Bronze Bell (1527) **A Processional Cross (13th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy *The

Motte A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or Bailey (castle), bailey, surrounded by a protective Rampart (fortificati ...

of the vanished fortified castle of Belleperche. This mound is at an altitude of 2,138 m south-east of the Church

Notable people linked to the commune

* Isabella de Valois, Dowager Duchess of Bourbon, mother of Duke Louis II of Bourbon, held prisoner in Belleperche from 1369 to 1370.

References

External links

Bagneux on the old National Geographic Institute website

Bagneux on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Bagneux'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
{{authority control Communes of Allier