Sioniac (French pronunciation: [sjɔnjak]; Occitan: Seunhac) is a commune in the Corrèze department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in central France.[3]

Sioniac
Coat of arms of Sioniac
Location of Sioniac
Map
Sioniac is located in France
Sioniac
Sioniac
Sioniac is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Sioniac
Sioniac
Coordinates: 44°58′32″N 1°48′47″E / 44.9756°N 1.8131°E / 44.9756; 1.8131
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentCorrèze
ArrondissementBrive-la-Gaillarde
CantonMidi Corrézien
IntercommunalityMidi Corrézien
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Laurent Puyjalon[1]
Area
1
10.6 km2 (4.1 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
227
 • Density21/km2 (55/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
19260 /19120
Elevation193–387 m (633–1,270 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Toponymy

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The origin of the Sioniac's name today has evolved over time. From records, it is first recorded as Siuiniacum during the 9th century, the suffice -acum being Latin for the property of the man Sivinius.[4]: 120  It is later recorded as Siviniaco vico and Siviniacus in 859 and by 1315 as Seunhac in Occitan.[4]: 120 

Geography

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Sioniac lies in the southernmost part of the Corrèze department, near the river Dordogne. It is part of the functional area of Biars-sur-Cère and Saint-Céré.[3]

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 221—    
1975 187−2.36%
1982 190+0.23%
1990 199+0.58%
1999 207+0.44%
2009 248+1.82%
2014 248+0.00%
2020 218−2.13%
Source: INSEE[5]

History

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Prior to the 9th Century, little is known about the origins of Sioniac but when Rodoulf, Archbishop of Bourges established a monastery down the hill at Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, he gave the church of Saint-Saturnin at Sioniac in May 859 to the newly established monks.[6] In June 859, Rudolf obtained a charter from King Charles the Bald to establish a market in Sioniac.[6] This market remained the main market for Beaulieu until the medieval period.[6] Other sources say the market could be older as the village was positioned on an ancient north-south trading route between Pay Arnac and Quercy.

Local culture and heritage

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Religious buildings

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Eglise Saint-Saturnin

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Eglise Saint-Saturnin

An older church served the area prior to the formation of the abbey at Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne.[7] The current church was built in the 11th century, with later additions from the 12th, 15th and 17th centuries.[7] It's a small Romanesque church with single nave with the first span a barrel vault while the other three consist of rib vaults.[7] There are six semi-round columns with buried bases that have curved volute capitals at their tops and support double arches.[7] Eight recessed columns with rebated capitals support the diagonal arches.[7] It has a tall pointed gable bell tower dates which from the 15th century.[7] It became a Historical Monument of France on 16 September 1949.[7]

Other buildings

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Manoir de Doumazac

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Now a private property, was an old hunting lodge of the Lords of d'Estresse.[8]: 95  It was built in the 13th century and extensions added in the 16th century.[9]

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b Commune de Sioniac (19260), INSEE
  4. ^ a b Lavalade, Yves (2017). Les Noms de Lieux du Pays de Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. Editions de L'Esperluette. ISBN 979-10-90784-67-3.
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  6. ^ a b c Collection de documents inedits sur l'histoire de France, Volume 2, Numéro 9. Collection de documents inedits sur l'histoire de France, France. Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques. Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques. 1859.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Base Mérimée: Eglise Saint-Saturnin, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  8. ^ Aubel, Francois (21 July 1999). La Correze: Vallee de la Dordogne (in French). Martel: Editions du Laquet. p. 104. ISBN 2-91033377-9.
  9. ^ "Château de Doumazac". www.chateau-fort-manoir-chateau.eu (in French). Retrieved 16 August 2019.