Benest

Benest is a common French, located in the department of the Charente and the area Poitou-Charentes. Its inhabitants is called the benestois and benestoises .

Geography

Benest is located at the Western North of Charente, in the area of Charente Limousine.

History

The life at summer very early be present at Benest as testifies the traces to them to the Roman way. The Saint-Justinien church was rested by the Monks of Charroux. It is acted in fact of the remainders of a Prieuré of which the castle of Ordières forms part. Benest is not richer in historic building than with other communes of Charente Limousine, it is equipped with two castles: Borderie and Ordières like two home, that of Holy Ground and that of Gêneton.

One can admire the remainders of an old bridge on Charente in the north of the commune.

The old tomb stones present in the cemetery at the north of the village would be the testimony of some battles with Benest. One found there many tombs and approximately thirty-seven years ago, a private individual, while digging to establish the bases of a barn, met one of these tombs, which contained the bones of a man, at side of which was a lance that one preserved a long time.

According to the legend the commune of Benest was the theater of a bloody battle that Charlemagne delivered to Buckwheats (they occupied part of Aquitaine then). The intention of the founder was scrupulously filled until the révolution.
The privilege which Charlemagne had granted to the inhabitants of Benest was confirmed to them by letters patent of François Ier. One reads on one of the walls of the church this inscription, in Gothic letters:
“The year 1517, frankness from Benest was put at the Net by Francois, king, who yawned this allegiance to them by preserving their old privilege”.
The stone which contains these words is still rather well preserved; but the titles, abolished by the National Assembly, were burned during the Révolution.
The communes of Montemboeuf and Vitrac enjoyed the same privileges and lost them in the same way.

Capital Benest of the pone: The pone is a large ground vase (1 m in height and 80 cm in diameter approximately) used until the beginning of the XXe century to make the detergent. Its cooking, with very fire, gives him its black color. Benest was famous for the manufacture of the pones and the building where they were cooked always exists in the borough. Some models of pones, often cracked, can be seen in the gardens where they are used as vats with flowers.

Administration

Benest adheres to the Communauté communes of Confolentais and to Sivos " Around " Allocates;.

The taxation is of a rate of 7% for the tax from dwelling, 14,49% on the land frame, 56% on not built and 13,91% of professional tax, and as the community of communes takes on all four tax, respectively 1,01%,2,45%,8,25% and 1,62% that gives on the whole and before the department and the area are added to it, 8,01% for the tax of dwelling, 16,94% on the land frame, 64,25% on not built and 15,53% of professional tax (figures 2007).

Demography

Economy

Equipment

Teaching

Health

Community life

It is the fact many associations: Festival and Leisure committee of Benest, Friendship of the Vicinity, the Workshop of the Musician of Charente-Limousine, Company of Hunting, Angling club, Club of Game of bowls, the Trace (Association for tourism, the excursions, the adjustment of the ways and the environment) Charente-native Dash of Benest, Picatos, Club of the 3rd Age, War veterans, ABC COUNCIL (computing activities and educational), Cancer Support in The Poitou-Charentes

Places and monuments

Saint-Justinien Church of the 12th century and 15th century, registered with the historic buildings since 1984.
Castle of Ordières of which a part is registered since 1982: the south-eastern tower which is an old keep, the northern frontage and its roof
Château of Borderie of which there remain only ruins.
the very many farms date for the majority from the 19th century but some are 18th century
Lavoir and fountain To mulch
Hameau of Loume (old station)
There are 5 crosses of way

Personalities related to the commune

See too

Notes and references of the article

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