Chauvigny (French pronunciation: [ʃoviɲi]; Poitevin: Chôvigni) is a commune in the Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France.

Chauvigny
A general view of Chauvigny
A general view of Chauvigny
Coat of arms of Chauvigny
Location of Chauvigny
Map
Chauvigny is located in France
Chauvigny
Chauvigny
Chauvigny is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Chauvigny
Chauvigny
Coordinates: 46°34′10″N 0°38′51″E / 46.5694°N 0.6475°E / 46.5694; 0.6475
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentVienne
ArrondissementMontmorillon
CantonChauvigny
IntercommunalityCU Grand Poitiers
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Gérard Herbert[1]
Area
1
95.82 km2 (37.00 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
7,099
 • Density74/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
86070 /86300
Elevation61–149 m (200–489 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Chauvigny is located 20 miles (32 km) east of Poitiers by rail. The town is situated overlooking the river Vienne and a small brook. Chauvigny is twinned with Billericay in Essex, England.

The composer Fernand Lamy (1881–1966) was born in Chauvigny.

Chauvigny was among the places visited by Roger Fry the British artist, art critic and member of the Bloomsbury group in October 1911 when, after his visit to Paris to see the Salon d’Automne, he joined Clive Bell (husband of the celebrated English artist Vanessa Bell) and Duncan Grant (also a celebrated English artist) on a bicycle tour of the region to explore Romanesque churches. Fry produced a charming painting of Chauvigny

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 6,653—    
1975 6,686+0.07%
1982 6,565−0.26%
1990 6,658+0.18%
1999 7,025+0.60%
2007 6,895−0.23%
2012 6,962+0.19%
2017 7,049+0.25%
Source: INSEE[3]

Sights

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Chauvigny features two interesting Romanesque churches, both restored in the 19th century. There are also ruins of a château of the bishops of Poitiers and of several other strongholds.[4]

Near Chauvigny is the curious bone-cavern of Jioux, the entrance to which is fortified by large blocks of stone.[4]

 
Panorama of Chauvigny

Economy

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As of 1911, the town carried on lime-burning and plaster-manufacture, and there were stone quarries in the vicinity. Trade was in wool and feathers.[4]

 
La gare de Chauvigny.

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. 4 May 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. ^ a b c   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chauvigny". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 19.
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