Barrais-Bussolles () is a commune in the

Allier Allier ( , , ; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region that borders Cher (department), Cher to the west, Nièvre to the north, Saône-et-Loire and Loire (department), Loire to the east, Pu ...

department in the

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (; AURA) or ; or ; . is a Regions of France, region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into e ...

region of central

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Barraisiens'' or ''Barraisiennes''.

Geography

Barrais-Bussolles is located some south-east of Moulins and north-east of

Vichy Vichy (, ; ) is a city in the central French department of Allier. Located on the Allier river, it is a major spa and resort town and during World War II was the capital of Vichy France. As of 2021, Vichy has a population of 25,789. Known f ...

. Access to the commune is by the D424 road from

Andelaroche Andelaroche () is a Communes of France, commune in the Allier Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. The inhabitants of the commune Demonym, are known as ''Andelarochois'' or ''Andelarochoises''. ...

in the south-east which passes through the village and continues north to join the D124 inside the commune. The D124 comes from

Bert Bert or BERT may refer to: Persons, characters, or animals known as Bert *Bert (name), commonly an abbreviated forename and sometimes a surname *Bert, a character in the poem "Bert the Wombat" by The Wiggles; from their 1992 album ''Here Comes a ...

in the north and passes through the northern part of the commune continuing south-west to

Lapalisse Lapalisse is a French commune located in the department of Allier in the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The commune is labeled a Village étape (Stopover Village) since 2006 and is part of the association Les Plus Beaux Détours de Franc ...

. Apart from the village there are also the hamlets of La Tuilerie, Les Rois d'en Bas, Les Rois, Les Cinq Chênes, Les Goyards, Les Gailles, Les Desserts, La Bruyère, Le Casson, Montpertuis, Les Tixiers, Les Rigondets, Les Jayots de Bois, Les Allaisons, Mâme, and Les Rivières in the commune. The commune is mainly farmland with some forest in the south-east and north-east. The ''Ris des Rois'' stream forms the north-western border of the commune as it flows north-west to join ''La Besbre'' near Trézelles. The ''Ruisseau de Conrieux'' forms most of the northern border of the commune as it flows east to join the ''Ris des Rois''. The ''Ruisseau de l'Étang Cochon'' also rises in the north of the commune and flows north-east to join the ''Ris des Rois''. On the western border the ''Ruisseau de Gerban'' forms the border as it flows south-west to join ''La Petit Tèche'' which continues to join ''La Besbre'' north of

. The ''Ruisseau de Maupas'' forms the southern border of the commune as it flows east to join ''La Petit Tèche''. The ''Ruisseau de Saint-Pourçain'' forms part of the eastern border as it flows north to join the ''Ruisseau des Gouttes Barres'' which in turn forms the north-eastern border as it flows north to join ''La Tèche'' near Bert.

History

Barrais appears as ''Barrois'' on the 1750

Cassini Map The Cassini Map or Academy's Map is the first topographic and geometric map made of the Kingdom of France as a whole. It was compiled by the Cassini family, mainly César-François Cassini (Cassini III) and his son Jean-Dominique Cassini (Cas ...

and the same on the 1790 version. Bussolles appears as ''Bufsolles'' on the 1750

and as ''Bussoles'' on the 1790 version. The commune was formed in 1833 by the merger of the communes of ''Barrais'' and ''Bussolles''.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive

Mayors In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

The Municipal Council is composed of 11 members including the Mayor and 2 deputies.

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 192 inhabitants.

Culture and heritage

Religious heritage

The Chapel de la Tour Pourçain (13th century) is registered as an historical monument.Ministry of Culture, Mérimée It is in the Gothic style with a bell tower over a facade that was added in the 19th century with a slate roof and surmounted by a wooden arrow.

Notable people linked to the commune

André Louis Laveissière (called Kiki), born 8 August 1913 in

Hautot-sur-Mer Hautot-sur-Mer (, literally ''Hautot on Sea'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Seine-Maritime Departments of France, department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy Regions of France, region in northern France. Geography A sm ...

(Seine-Maritime) and died 24 November 1994 in Paris. He joined

General de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...

in England, walking across France and later Spain. Member of the

Free French Air Force The Free French Air Forces (, FAFL) were the air arm of the Free French Forces in the Second World War, created by Charles de Gaulle in 1940. The designation ceased to exist in 1943 when the Free French Forces merged with General Giraud's force ...

, former No. 341 Squadron RAF. Chevalier of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

with palm 1939–1945,

Resistance Medal The Resistance Medal (, ) was a decoration bestowed by the French Committee of National Liberation, based in the United Kingdom, during World War II. It was established by a decree of General Charles de Gaulle on 9 February 1943 "to recognize the ...

Escapees' Medal The Escapees' Medal () is a military award bestowed by the government of France to individuals who were prisoners of war and who successfully escaped internment or died as a result of their escape attempt. The "Escapees' Medal" was established by ...

Volunteer combatant's cross The Volunteer combatant's cross () was a French decoration that originally recognized those who volunteered to serve in a combat unit during World War II. It is the equivalent of the " 1914–1918 Volunteer combatant's cross" (). History This dec ...

, and

Aeronautical Medal The Aeronautical Medal () is a state decoration of France established by the decree of February 14, 1945. It is awarded to both military personnel and civilians for outstanding accomplishments related to the field of aeronautics. Originally e ...

. He lived in the commune during part of his youth. He then lived in Boulogne-Billancourt. He is, however, buried in the cemetery of Barrais-Bussolles.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barraisbussolles Communes of Allier