Bassignac

Bassignac is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region of south-central France.

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 Mayors

From	To	Name	Party
2001	2026	Marc Maisonneuve	PS

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 231 inhabitants.

Education

The commune has a public primary school at Vendes.

Associations

Association 3V - The espavents, Vendes Viaduct Village: Association to safeguard the Sumène viaduct and the festival of scarecrows.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has many buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments:

The Sumène Viaduct The interior decor of the Viaduct is also registered as an historical object.
A Priory House
The Chateau Park
Coal Mining Industrial Buildings
Houses and Farms
A Flour Mill at Vendes
A City of Miners at Champleix
A Farmhouse at Lavaurs
A Merchant's House at Lachamp
A Farmhouse at Le Fau
A Farmhouse at La Riagaire
A Farmhouse at Montgroux
A Farmhouse at Emprades
The Chateau du Rieu Farmhouse at Le Rieu
A Road Bridge at Vendes
A Wheelwright and Blacksmith's House at Vendes
A House at Vendes
A Chateau at Vendes
A '''Chateau'''

Religious heritage

The commune has several religious buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments:

The Church of Vendes
Monumental Crosses
The Benedictine Priory of Saint Jacques The priory contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
*The Furniture in the Priory
*A Group Sculpture: Education of the Virgin
*A Statuette: Saint Marguerite of Antioch
*A Statuette: Saint Barbe
*2 Statuettes: Saint Jacques and Saint Joseph
*A Stoup
The Parish Church of Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Radegonde The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
*A Stained glass window: God the Father blessing
*A Stained glass window: Christ blessing
*An ex-voto Painting: The Crucifixion
*4 Capitals and 2 bases
*The Furniture in the Church
*A Candle Mould
*A Chalice
*A Statue: Saint Radegonde of Poitiers
*A Painting: The Adoration of the citizens
*A Painting: Saint Radegonde of Poitiers
*A Painting: The Crucifixion
*2 Windows: Christ blessing and God the Father