Les Assions

Les Assions is a commune in the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southern France.

Les Assions
View of the village at the foot of Puech
View of the village at the foot of Puech
Location of Les Assions
Map
Les Assions is located in France
Les Assions
Les Assions
Les Assions is located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Les Assions
Les Assions
Coordinates: 44°25′20″N 4°10′28″E / 44.4222°N 4.1744°E / 44.4222; 4.1744
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentArdèche
ArrondissementLargentière
CantonLes Cévennes ardéchoises
IntercommunalityCC Pays Vans Cévennes
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Emmanuel Legras[1]
Area
1
14.88 km2 (5.75 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
770
 • Density52/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
07017 /07140
Elevation122–329 m (400–1,079 ft)
(avg. 200 m or 660 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

The Saint-Arnault Grotto

Les Assions is located some 35 km south-west of Aubenas and 5 km north-east of Les Vans. Access to the commune is by the D104A road from Lablachère in the north passing through the heart of the commune just east of the village and continuing south to join the D295 near Vompdes. The D452 branches off the D104A in the commune and goes east by a circuitous route to the Village de Vacances Francaises de Casteljau. The D104 from Lablachère to Saint-Paul-le-Jeune forms the eastern border of the commune. Access to the village is by a country road (Le Village) branching north from the D104A in the south of the commune. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Le Bosc in the west, Le Bourel and La Ribeyrie to the north-east and Champetier-Haut in the north. The commune east of the Salindres river is mostly wasteland and forest while the west side is mostly forest with farmland and residential areas.[3]

The Chassezac river forms the southern border of the commune as it flows east to join the Ardeche at Saint-Alban-Auriolles. The Riviere de Salindres flows south through the commune to join the Chassezac and several other tributaries rise in the commune and flow into the Chassezac.[3]

The vegetation includes predominantly oak trees, olive trees and chestnut trees.

Neighbouring communes and villages[3]

Administration

The War Memorial

List of Successive Mayors[4]

FromToName
1848Boize[5]
1995Jean Duny
19952014Michel Moutet
20142020Pascal Redon
2020currentEmmanuel Legras

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Assionais or Assionaises in French.[6]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 1,178—    
1800 979−2.61%
1806 1,036+0.95%
1821 1,042+0.04%
1831 1,177+1.23%
1836 1,274+1.60%
1841 1,357+1.27%
1846 1,471+1.63%
1851 1,464−0.10%
1856 1,424−0.55%
1861 1,250−2.57%
1866 1,205−0.73%
1872 1,240+0.48%
1876 1,194−0.94%
1881 1,007−3.35%
1886 976−0.62%
1891 972−0.08%
1896 931−0.86%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 882−1.08%
1906 848−0.78%
1911 779−1.68%
1921 664−1.58%
1926 612−1.62%
1931 593−0.63%
1936 570−0.79%
1946 700+2.08%
1954 444−5.53%
1962 495+1.37%
1968 456−1.36%
1975 402−1.78%
1982 440+1.30%
1990 448+0.23%
1999 529+1.86%
2009 646+2.02%
2014 697+1.53%
2020 764+1.54%
Source: EHESS[7] and INSEE[8]

Distribution of Age Groups

The population of the town is relatively old.

Percentage Distribution of Age Groups in Les Assions and Ardèche Department in 2017

Les AssionsArdèche
Age RangeMenWomenMenWomen
0 to 14 Years14.917.017.716.1
15 to 29 Years9.28.914.413.0
30 to 44 Years18.217.317.316.9
45 to 59 Years18.417.321.620.7
60 to 74 Years28.227.219.719.7
75 to 89 Years11.110.98.511.2
90 Years+0.01.50.92.4

Source: INSEE[9][10]

Sites and monuments

  • The abandoned village of Cornilhon
  • The Clochans on the Plateau des Gras
  • The Chapel of Sainte-Apollonie from the 19th century on top of the Puech
  • The Church of Saint-Apollinaire, rebuilt in the 17th and 19th centuries on the ruins of a Roman church

The Church of Saint-Apollinaire contains three items that are registered as historical objects:

  • Statue: Saint Apollinaire (19th century) [11]
  • 2 Processional Crosses (19th century) [12]
  • A Bronze Bell (1670) [13]
Gallery

See also

References