Alzonne (; ) is a commune in the Aude department in the Occitanie region of southern France.
Geography The commune is located in the Lauragais valley some 15 km west of Carcassonne and 15 km east of Castelnaudary. The route D6113 passes through the commune from west to east between these two cities and becomes National Route N113 near Carcassonne. The Autoroute des Deux Mers (A61, E80) passes just 1 km south of the commune but the nearest exit is to the D43 near Bram. Other roads running into the commune are the D8 from Montolieu in the north, the D34 from Saint-Martin-le-Vieil in the northwest, and the D33 running west to east from Bram to Villesèquelande forms the southern border of the commune with a connecting road running north to the village. The Bordeaux-Sète railway runs west to east across the southern part of the commune but there is no station. The nearest station is at Bram.Google Maps
The Fresquel river runs from west to east through the commune passing just south of the village and joining the Aude at Carcassonne. The Fresquel is joined by the Lampy just east of the village and a number of streams flow into the two rivers including the Ruisseau de Fontorbe, the Ruisseau de Rebenty, the Ruisseau de Falgous, and the Vernassonne which forms a part of the northern border of the commune. The Canal du Midi also passes through the southern part of the commune.
The commune is mostly farmland with some forests in the north. Apart from the village of Alzonne there are also the hamlets of Fongayraud and La Rode near the village, and La Migance in the north.
Neighbouring communes and villages
Toponymy The name Alsona dates from 898 and comes from Fresquel. It is based on the Hydronymic root alz- meaning "alder" or "swamp" (Dauzat, Negre, Billy, Morvan) and the suffix -onna.
History Alzonne from the 9th century was a town of some importance as it was once the capital of the viguerie of its name: vicaria Ausonensis; therefore Alzonne was also known in pago Carcassensi. In this respect the situation of Alzonne has hardly changed since this small town is today the capital of the canton of its name in the arrondissement of Carcassonne.
Its ancient and enduring importance is due to the fertility of its land and the rivers that form its fertile valley. Once the city was fortified and was besieged and taken three times during the Wars of Religion of the 16th century.Dezobry and Bachelet, Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 1, Ch. Delagrave, 1876, p. 68 It was a strategic place in the crusade against the Albigensians.
Heraldry
Administration List of Successive Mayors of AlzonneList of Mayors of France
From To Name 1789 1791 Jean Faral 1791 1792 Planchett 1792 1793 Joseph Saisset 1793 1794 Jean Sales 1794 1795 Jean Duquos 1795 1808 Jean Sales 1808 1815 Jean Faral 1815 1824 Honoré Denille 1824 1830 Jean Paul Sales 1830 1853 Jean Baptiste Gellis 1853 1865 Jean Baptiste Denille 1865 1870 Pierre Rancoule 1870 1874 Pierre Edmond Vialatte 1874 1876 Pierre Rancoule 1876 1901 Edmond Henri Vialatte 1901 1904 Marin de Stofflet 1904 1913 Jules Alquier-Griffoulet 1913 1914 Joseph Marty 1914 1922 Henri Guilhot 1922 1929 Antoine Vieu
Mayors from 1929
From To Name Party 1929 1943 Jean Bousquet 1943 1944 Georges Satgé 1944 1945 Edouard Revel 1945 1971 Antoine Azam SFIO 1971 1977 Grégoire Vanacker PS 1977 1995 Jacques Tramunt PS 1995 2014 Jean-Marie Salles PS 2014 2026 Régis Banquet PS
Population The inhabitants of the commune are known as Alzonnois or Alzonnoises in French.Le nom des habitants du 11 - Aude, habitants.fr
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage The commune has two structures that are registered as historical objects: The War Memorial (1921)Ministry of Culture, Palissy The Monument to Vialatte (1902)Ministry of Culture, Palissy
Other sites of interest The Rébenty Aqueduct on the Canal du Midi across the Ruisseau de Rébenty
Religious heritage The Church contains two items that are registered as historical objects: A Bronze Bell (1782)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Bronze Bell (1591)Ministry of Culture, Palissy
Notable People linked to the commune Jean Dours (1809-1877), Bishop of Soissons, was born in Alzonne Antoine Gayraud (18 May 1910 in Alzonne - 18 March 1981 in Carcassonne), French politician Françoise de Veyrinas (4 September 1943 - 16 August 2008), born and died in Alzonne, French politician
See also Communes of the Aude department
References
External links Alzonne on the old National Geographic Institute website Alzonne on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website Alzonne on the 1750 Cassini Map