Avaux

Avaux (French pronunciation: [avo]) is a commune in the Ardennes department and Grand Est region of north-eastern France.

Avaux
Commune
the Church of Notre-Dame
Coat of arms
Location of Avaux
Avaux Show map of France Avaux Show map of Grand Est
Coordinates: 49°27′24″N 4°05′03″E
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Department	Ardennes
Arrondissement	Rethel
Canton	Château-Porcien
Intercommunality	CC Pays Rethélois
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Didier Marby[1]
Area 1	13.19 km2 (5.09 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	511
• Density	38.7/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	08039 /08190
Elevation	57–130 m (187–427 ft) (avg. 60 m or 200 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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.^[3]

Geography

Avaux is located some 22 km west by south-west of Rethel and 38 km south-east of Laon. Access to the commune is by the D523 from Évergnicourt in the south-west which changes to the D137 at the border then continues to the village and north-east to join the D18 south-west of Saint-Germainmont. The D966 forms the western border of the commune as it goes south from Lor to Evergnicourt. Apart from thin strips of forest along the eastern and southern borders the commune is entirely farmland.^[4]

The Canal latéral à l'Aisne forms the southern border of the commune and the Aisne river forms the eastern border then runs through the south of the commune parallel to the canal as it flows west to eventually join the Seine at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.

Neighbouring communes and villages

Heraldry

Arms of Avaux

The official status of the blazon remains to be determined. Blazon: Azure, a lion crowned Argent issuant, in chief Or a crescent of Sable between two mullets the same.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors^[5]

From	To	Name
2001	2008	Pascal Beguin
2008	current	Didier Marby

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Avalois or Avaloises in French.^[6]

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 506 —     1800 574 +1.82% 1806 504 −2.14% 1821 644 +1.65% 1831 705 +0.91% 1836 716 +0.31% 1841 725 +0.25% 1846 682 −1.22% 1851 704 +0.64% 1866 753 +0.45% 1872 710 −0.98% 1876 649 −2.22% 1881 653 +0.12% 1886 650 −0.09% 1891 631 −0.59% 1896 606 −0.81% 1901 602 −0.13%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1906 592 −0.33% 1911 575 −0.58% 1921 405 −3.44% 1926 431 +1.25% 1931 404 −1.29% 1936 417 +0.64% 1946 359 −1.49% 1954 361 +0.07% 1962 355 −0.21% 1968 327 −1.36% 1975 317 −0.44% 1982 293 −1.12% 1990 404 +4.10% 1999 454 +1.30% 2007 462 +0.22% 2012 455 −0.30% 2017 466 +0.48%
Source: EHESS[7] and INSEE[8]

Sites and monuments

Avaux was once called Asfeld-le-Château as it was the seat of a fortified house of the Counts of Avaux. The chateau has disappeared.

The Church of Notre-Dame contains a Painting: the Nativity of the Virgin (18th century), which is registered as an historical object.^[9]

Notable people linked to the commune

• Claude de Mesmes, Count of Avaux (1595-1650), diplomat and man of letters.
• Jean-Jacques de Mesmes, Count of Avaux: best known for developing the town of Asfeld.
• Yves Gibeau, his family came from Avaux and he lived in the commune during part of his youth.^[10]

See also

• Communes of the Ardennes department