Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne (; oc, Nauta Vinhana, ; English: Upper Vienne) is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwest-central France. Named after the Vienne River, it is one of the twelve departments that together constitute Nouvelle-Aquita ...
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Nouvelle-Aquitaine (; oc, Nòva Aquitània or ; eu, Akitania Berria; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Novéle-Aguiéne'') is the largest administrative region in France, spanning the west and southwest of the mainland. The region was created by ...
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
in southwestern
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
.
History
The earliest known name for Rancon is Roncomagus; which comes from the Gallic and means 'market at the rock'. And the piers for the old bridge over the River
Gartempe
The Gartempe () is a French river, long. It is a left tributary of the Creuse, which it joins in La Roche-Posay. Its source is in the municipality of Peyrabout.
Among its tributaries are the Anglin, the Brame, the Semme and the Ardour.
Th ...
- which still exists - date from the Gallo-Roman era. This bridge is believed to have carried an important Gallo-Roman road.
The village also has a fortified church which featured in the
Hundred Years War
The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of England and France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French throne between the English House of Plantage ...
. As well as a 'Lantern of the dead' dating from the 12th century. The exact purpose of these lanterns is still a mystery.
There is also a Roman-style chapel outside the village, which houses a Gallo-Roman altar dedicated to Hercules. This chapel is open during the summer and was painted by English artists Fred Yates and Geoff Bunn both of whom lived in the area for a time.
Geography
The river
Semme
The Semme () is a river in the Creuse and Haute-Vienne departments, in central France. Its source is in Saint-Priest-la-Feuille. It flows generally west and is a right tributary of the Gartempe, into which it flows near le Bouchard, a hamlet ...
forms the commune's northern border.
The river
Gartempe
The Gartempe () is a French river, long. It is a left tributary of the Creuse, which it joins in La Roche-Posay. Its source is in the municipality of Peyrabout.
Among its tributaries are the Anglin, the Brame, the Semme and the Ardour.
Th ...
forms part of the commune's eastern border, flows westward through the middle of the commune, then forms part of the commune's western border.
Inhabitants are known as ''Ranconniers''.