Bagneux, Allier

Bagneux (French pronunciation: [baɲø] ^ⓘ) is a commune of the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France.

Bagneux
Commune
Site of the Belleperche Fort
Coat of arms
Location of Bagneux
Bagneux Show map of France Bagneux Show map of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Coordinates: 46°39′30″N 3°12′23″E
Country	France
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Allier
Arrondissement	Moulins
Canton	Moulins-1
Intercommunality	CA Moulins Communauté
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Jean-Damien Barre[1]
Area 1	24.87 km2 (9.60 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	339
• Density	14/km2 (35/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	03015 /03460
Elevation	192–262 m (630–860 ft) (avg. 212 m or 696 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Bagnolais or Bagnolaises.^[3]

Geography

Bagneux is located some 30 km (19 mi) south-east of Sancoins and 15 km (9.3 mi) 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 in the east and passes through the village before continuing south-west to Agonges. 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.^[4]

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.^[4]

Neighbouring communes and villages

^[5]

History

The Chateau of Belleperche, located on the territory of the commune, was besieged in 1370 during the Hundred Years War. Free companies 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 and Burgundy. The "Free companies" were expelled, but they took the duchess with them as hostage.

Heraldry

Arms of Bagneux

Blazon: Argent, a band wavy of Azure between in chief a sword of Or with hilt of sable posed in bend, in base an oak leaf Vert also in bend; all cantoned in Gules charged with a tower of Or, port open, masoned and windowed in Sable.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors^[6]

From	To	Name	Party
1838	1842	Jean François Alexandre Théodore Patissier
1898	1908	Jean Baptiste Emile Firmin Boutry
2001	2020	Yves Véniat[7]	DVG
2020	Current	Jean-Damien Barre[8]

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 425 —     1800 360 −2.34% 1806 420 +2.60% 1821 483 +0.94% 1831 429 −1.18% 1836 424 −0.23% 1841 403 −1.01% 1846 396 −0.35% 1851 389 −0.36% 1856 404 +0.76% 1861 379 −1.27% 1866 369 −0.53% 1872 401 +1.40% 1876 425 +1.46% 1881 482 +2.55% 1886 429 −2.30% 1891 493 +2.82% 1896 468 −1.04%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 459 −0.39% 1906 455 −0.17% 1911 460 +0.22% 1921 389 −1.66% 1926 388 −0.05% 1931 364 −1.27% 1936 313 −2.97% 1946 324 +0.35% 1954 308 −0.63% 1962 328 +0.79% 1968 293 −1.86% 1975 240 −2.81% 1982 234 −0.36% 1990 276 +2.08% 1999 280 +0.16% 2007 272 −0.36% 2012 317 +3.11% 2017 321 +0.25%
Source: EHESS[9] and INSEE[10]

Sites and monuments

• The Romanesque Church of Saint Paul (12th century) is registered as an historical monument.^[11] The Church contains three items that are registered as historical objects:
  • A Commemorative Plaque for the founding of Masses by Priest François Bouquereau (1679)^[12]
  • A Bronze Bell (1527)^[13]
  • A Processional Cross (13th century)^[14]
• The Motte 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.

See also

• Communes of the Allier department