Bassignac (; ) is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region of south-central France.INSEE commune file
Geography Bassignac is located some 35 km north-east of Tulle and 10 km south by south-west of Bort-les-Orgues. Access to the commune is by the D922 road from Ydes in the north which passes through the length of the commune and the village and continues south to Mauriac. The D12 comes from Veyrières in the west and goes down the western border joining the D922 at Vendes. The D512 branches off the D12 and passes through Parensol continuing north to join the D922 south of Ydes. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Le Fau, Le Marlat, Parensol, Montgroux, Vendes, Brousse, and Champleix. The commune is mixed forest and farmland.
Vendes is the largest village in the commune with 60 inhabitants in winter and about 100 in summer and is dominated by the old Sumène viaduct.
The Sumène river flows through the commune from north to south turning west to form the southern border of the commune and continuing west to join the Dordogne north of Arches. The Ruisseau de la Graille rises in the centre of the commune and flows north then south to join the Sumène. The Ruisseau de Rouillade flows south forming the eastern border of the commune before joining the Sumène near the centre of the commune.
History
In the 10th century the hamlet of Vendes was the property of Artaud de Charlus. Charlus was a promontory some 4 km north of Vendes and had a fortified chateau on top. There are no remains except a view across the mountains of Auvergne. The Lévis-Charlus family was a noble family.
Bassignac appears as Baßignac on the 1750 Cassini Map and as Bassignac on the 1790 version.
There was a railway running through the commune with the second longest viaduct in Cantal at 367m and a height of 46m. The viaduct and railway were opened in 1893 as part of the SNCF line from Paris-Austerlitz-Aurillac. The line closed on 3 July 1994 and the viaduct was abandoned.
Administration
List of Successive MayorsList of Mayors of France From To Name Party 2001 2026 Marc Maisonneuve PS
Demography
Education The commune has a public primary school at Vendes.Schools in Bassignac
Associations Association 3V - The espavents, Vendes Viaduct Village: Association to safeguard the Sumène viaduct and the festival of scarecrows.3V The Espavents website
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage The commune has many buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments: The Sumène Viaduct (1893)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The interior decor of the Viaduct is also registered as an historical object.Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Priory House (1746)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Chateau Park Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Coal Mining Industrial Buildings (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Houses and Farms (17th-20th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Flour Mill at Vendes (1799)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A City of Miners at Champleix (20th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Farmhouse at Lavaurs (1865)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Merchant's House at Lachamp (1868)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Farmhouse at Le Fau (1769)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Farmhouse at La Riagaire (1799)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Farmhouse at Montgroux (1830)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Farmhouse at Emprades (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Chateau du Rieu Farmhouse at Le Rieu (1755)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Road Bridge at Vendes (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Wheelwright and Blacksmith's House at Vendes (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A House at Vendes (1746)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Chateau at Vendes (1780)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée A Chateau (15th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
Religious heritage The commune has several religious buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments: The Church of Vendes (11th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Monumental Crosses (19th-20th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Benedictine Priory of Saint Jacques (1778)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The priory contains several items that are registered as historical objects: The Furniture in the PrioryMinistry of Culture, Palissy A Group Sculpture: Education of the Virgin (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Statuette: Saint Marguerite of Antioch (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Statuette: Saint Barbe (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy 2 Statuettes: Saint Jacques and Saint Joseph (1855)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Stoup (Middle Ages)Ministry of Culture, Palissy The Parish Church of Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Radegonde (12th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects: A Stained glass window: God the Father blessing (15th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Stained glass window: Christ blessing (15th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy An ex-voto Painting: The Crucifixion (1633)Ministry of Culture, Palissy 4 Capitals and 2 bases (12th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy The Furniture in the ChurchMinistry of Culture, Palissy A Candle Mould (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Chalice (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Statue: Saint Radegonde of Poitiers (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Painting: The Adoration of the citizens (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Painting: Saint Radegonde of Poitiers (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Painting: The Crucifixion (1633)Ministry of Culture, Palissy 2 Windows: Christ blessing and God the Father (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy
See also Communes of the Cantal department
References