Braize (French pronunciation: [bʁɛz]) is a commune in the Allier department in central France.

Braize
The church in Braize
The church in Braize
Location of Braize
Map
Braize is located in France
Braize
Braize
Braize is located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Braize
Braize
Coordinates: 46°40′05″N 2°39′02″E / 46.6681°N 2.6506°E / 46.6681; 2.6506
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentAllier
ArrondissementMontluçon
CantonBourbon-l'Archambault
IntercommunalityCC du Pays de Tronçais
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Solange Lalevée[1]
Area
1
20.95 km2 (8.09 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
259
 • Density12/km2 (32/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
03037 /03360
Elevation186–291 m (610–955 ft)
(avg. 230 m or 750 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

 
Map of Braize.

At its widest point, the commune is 8 km across, stretching from the Cher department to the Rond des Landes Blanches. It lies in a valley oriented east and west from La Pacaudière to Les Ris, the lowest point in the commune.

Much of the valley is swampy. It is drained by a brook that flows through several ponds. The lowest point in the commune is on the west.

On the south are the edges of the forest of Tronçais, dominated by several buttes at Rond du Haut du Parc and Puy Aigu, the highest point in the commune at Montaloyer.

On the north, a gentle slope rises to the present town, with its remarkable feudal motte Le Mamelon, close to the farm called La Commanderie. Northwest of Baignereau, the boundary is the river Sologne.

Beyond the village and to the edge of the commune, a slightly rolling plateau leads to the Verneuil vineyards, of which only a small part are still cultivated.

Economy edit

In the 1930s, Braize had a half dozen vineyards of 30 to 40 hectares.

Currently, there are about a half dozen farms raising primarily cattle and sheep. Tourist activities include fishing and camping.

Events edit

The traditional festival of the patron saint, La Saint Antoine, is celebrated January 17. The Foire aux ânes takes place the last Sunday in August.

Population edit

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901432—    
1906507+3.25%
1911495−0.48%
1921378−2.66%
1926362−0.86%
1931359−0.17%
1936362+0.17%
1946334−0.80%
1954329−0.19%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1962310−0.74%
1968326+0.84%
1975307−0.85%
1982275−1.56%
1990254−0.99%
1999257+0.13%
2007279+1.03%
2012283+0.29%
2017257−1.91%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE[4]

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". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Braize, EHESS (in French).
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE