Braize () 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 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 ...
.
Geography
At its widest point, the commune is 8 km across, stretching from the
Cher
Cher ( ; born Cheryl Sarkisian, May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Goddess of Pop", she is known for her Androgyny, androgynous contralto voice, Music an ...
department to the Rond des Landes Blanches. It lies in a valley oriented east and west from La Pacaudière to Les Ris, the lowest point in the commune.
Much of the valley is swampy. It is drained by a brook that flows through several ponds. The lowest point in the commune is on the west.
On the south are the edges of the
forest of Tronçais
The Forest of Tronçais (, ) is a national forest comprising in the Allier department of central France. It is managed by the National Forests Office (ONF). Its oaks, planted by Louis XIV's minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert to supply the Frenc ...
, dominated by several buttes at Rond du Haut du Parc and Puy Aigu, the highest point in the commune at Montaloyer.
On the north, a gentle slope rises to the present town, with its remarkable feudal
motte
A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or Bailey (castle), bailey, surrounded by a protective Rampart (fortificati ...
''Le Mamelon'', close to the farm called ''La Commanderie''. Northwest of Baignereau, the boundary is the river
Sologne
Sologne (; ) is a natural region in Centre-Val de Loire, France, extending over portions of the departements of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher and Cher. Its area is about . To its north is the river Loire, to its south the river Cher, while the district ...
.
Beyond the village and to the edge of the commune, a slightly rolling plateau leads to the Verneuil vineyards, of which only a small part are still cultivated.
Economy
In the 1930s, Braize had a half dozen vineyards of 30 to 40 hectares.
Currently, there are about a half dozen farms raising primarily cattle and sheep. Tourist activities include fishing and camping.
Events
The traditional festival of the patron saint, ''La Saint Antoine'', is celebrated January 17. The ''Foire aux ânes'' takes place the last Sunday in August.
Population
See also
*
Communes of the Allier department
The following is a list of the 317 Communes of France, communes of the Allier Departments of France, department of France.
Intercommunalities
The communes cooperate in the following Communes of France#Intercommunality, intercommunalities (a ...
References
Communes of Allier
Allier communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia
{{Allier-geo-stub