Bessines-sur-Gartempe (French pronunciation: [bɛsin syʁ ɡaʁtɑ̃p], literally Bessines on Gartempe; Limousin: Becinas) is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France.

Bessines-sur-Gartempe
Saint-Léger church
Coat of arms of Bessines-sur-Gartempe
Location of Bessines-sur-Gartempe
Map
Bessines-sur-Gartempe is located in France
Bessines-sur-Gartempe
Bessines-sur-Gartempe
Bessines-sur-Gartempe is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Bessines-sur-Gartempe
Bessines-sur-Gartempe
Coordinates: 46°06′35″N 1°22′10″E / 46.1097°N 1.3694°E / 46.1097; 1.3694
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentHaute-Vienne
ArrondissementBellac
CantonAmbazac
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Andréa Brouille[1]
Area
1
55.41 km2 (21.39 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
2,762
 • Density50/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
87014 /87250
Elevation250–533 m (820–1,749 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

edit

The river Semme forms part of the commune's north-eastern border, flows westward through the northern part of the commune, north of Morterolles-sur-Semmes, a hamlet, then forms part of the commune's north-western border.

The river Gartempe forms part of the commune's eastern border, flows westward through the middle of the commune, north of Bessines-sur-Gartempe, the main village, then forms part of the commune's western border.

Population

edit
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 3,417—    
1975 2,982−1.93%
1982 3,011+0.14%
1990 2,988−0.10%
1999 2,743−0.95%
2007 2,912+0.75%
2012 2,830−0.57%
2017 2,836+0.04%
Source: INSEE[3]

Inhabitants are known as Bessinauds in French.

Culture

edit

In the late 20th century, the community's local band, a traveling chamber orchestra known as "La Banda de Bessines" ("The Bessines Band"), gained some national repute, winning French National Band Championships in 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, and 2005.[4]

Bessines sur Gartempe has also been awarded the prestigious "Village d'Etape" status.[5]

People

edit

The painter Suzanne Valadon was born in the village in 1865.

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  4. ^ "Banda de Bessines website". Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-07-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
edit