Ensigné (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃siɲe]) is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France.

Ensigné
The commandry
The commandry
Location of Ensigné
Map
Ensigné is located in France
Ensigné
Ensigné
Ensigné is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Ensigné
Ensigné
Coordinates: 46°05′19″N 0°14′35″W / 46.0886°N 0.2431°W / 46.0886; -0.2431
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentDeux-Sèvres
ArrondissementNiort
CantonMignon-et-Boutonne
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Bernard Belaud[1]
Area
1
20.30 km2 (7.84 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
288
 • Density14/km2 (37/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
79111 /79170
Elevation55–149 m (180–489 ft)
(avg. 413 m or 1,355 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 surrounding countryside is densely wooded. The village is close to the forest of Ensigné and of Aulnay.

The kindergarten and primary school have been merged with those of Asnières-en-Poitou and Paizay-le-Chapt, none of the three individual villages having a population above 300 by the start of the twenty-first century.

History edit

The history of the village is closely linked to that of the Knights Templar. Ensigné contains a Templar command post comprising fortifications, a chapel and a castle.

Today the site is privately owned: the castle itself is in a ruined condition, but two separate properties have been created from the part including the former chapel.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.