Arcy-Sainte-Restitue

Arcy-Sainte-Restitue
Arcy-Sainte-Restitue
Location within Picardy region  Arcy-Sainte-Restitue
Coordinates: 49°15′13″N 3°27′56″E / 49.2536°N 3.4656°ECoordinates: 49°15′13″N 3°27′56″E / 49.2536°N 3.4656°E
Country	France
Region	Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie
Department	Aisne
Arrondissement	Soissons
Canton	Oulchy-le-Château
Intercommunality	Oulchy le Château
Government
• Mayor (2008–2020)	Daniel Fonte
Area^1	26.43 km^2 (10.20 sq mi)
Population (2012)^2	414
• Density	16/km^2 (41/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	02022 / 02130
Elevation	79–197 m (259–646 ft)
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. ^2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Arcy-Sainte-Restitue is a French commune in the department of Aisne in the Picardy region of northern France.

Geography

Arcy-Sainte-Restitue is located some 40 km west of Reims and 20 km south-east of Soissons. The main access to the commune is by the D6 road from the north which passes through the heart of the commune and continues south to join the D2 near Saponay. The village is accessed by the D1210 road coming from Hartennes-et-Taux in the west to the village then continuing south-west to join the D6. The D22 road also comes from Ouchy-le-Chateau in the south-west to the village then continuing north-east to join the D6 in the north of the commune. The D83 road also passes through the north of the commune crossing the D6 at the northern border and continuing south-east to the western border of the commune. The commune is mostly farmland with some areas of forest to north, south, east, and west.^[1]

The Ruisseau de Chouy rises west of the village and flows east through the village and the commune to join the Muze river at the western border of the commune.^[1]

Neighbouring communes and villages^[1]

History

In 852 the Count of Moreuil, Lord of Picardy, went to Rome to defend Pope Leo IV against the threat of invasion by the Saracens. In appreciation of his services, the pope acceded to the wish of the Count to return the remains of Saint Restituta to France. To return to the count's lordship, the convoy passed through Arcy. There, the soldiers laid the Chasse containing the relics of the saint. Upon departure, the Chasse became very heavy and soldiers could not put it back on the wagon. There were then two miracles: a fountain spouted and a mother passing near the shrine with her stillborn child in her arms saw her child lived and said, "Stay here, stay here". The Count left the Chasse in the chapel of Saint Martin.

In 863 King Louis II of France ordered that the holy relics be moved to escape the ravages of the Vikings. The remains of Saint Restitue were thoroughly dispersed.

A Chasse dedicated to the saint is visible in the church. It is carved wood with brass ornaments decorated in gold from the 17th century.

In 2006 ADSL service arrived at Arcy-Sainte-Restitue.

On 14 July 2008 Arcy-Sainte-Restitue was the first town in Aisne to host the fireworks brigade of Reims for an artistic performance in the Kropalm Festival.

Before the war, the small hamlet of Servenay had a small chapel which was at the centre of the hamlet a few metres from the square. The only evidence of its existence is recorded in the archives of the village.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Arcy-Sainte-Restitue^[2]

From	To	Name	Party	Position
2001	2008	Guy Hobreaux	DVD
2008	2020	Daniel Fonte

(Not all data is known)

Demography

Before 1973, the municipalities of Arcy-Sainte-Restores and Branges (02113) were distinct and their population was counted separately.

In 2012 the commune had 414 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known through the population censuses conducted in the town since 1793. From the 21st century, a census of municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger towns that have a sample survey every year.^{[Note 1]}

Population Change (See database)

1793	1800	1806	1821	1831	1836	1841	1846	1851
506	520	528	566	563	597	672	736	706

1856	1861	1866	1872	1876	1881	1886	1891	1896
690	637	632	590	640	609	599	568	610

1901	1906	1911	1921	1926	1931	1936	1946	1954
564	577	591	456	511	508	487	550	557

1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2006	2007	2010
486	481	373	360	328	369	420	427	427

Sources : Ldh/EHESS/Cassini until 1962, INSEE database from 1968 (population without double counting and municipal population from 2006)

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The former Chateau of Branges (16th century) is registered as an historical monument.^[3]

• 3 Lavoirs (Public Laundries): one at Arcy, another at Branges, and another at Servenay.^[4]

Religious heritage

The Church of Saint Martin (12th century) is registered as an historical monument.^[5] The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:

• Part of a Mural: Greenery of birds (17th century)^[6]
• A Bas-relief and a Retable from the Altar in the Chapel of the Virgin (17th century)^[7]
• A Lectern (17th century)^[8]
• 2 Consoles (18th century)^[9]
• The Panelling on the Walls (18th century)^[10]
• The Panelling on the Walls (3) (17th century)^[11]
• A Baptismal font (12th century)^[12]
• A Cross (17th century)^[13]
• A Chasse of Saint Restitue (12th century)^[14]

See also

• Communes of the Aisne department

External links

• Arcy-Sainte-Restitue on the old National Geographic Institute website (French)
• Bell Towers website (French)
• 40,000 Bell Towers website (French)
• Arcy-Sainte-Restitue on Lion1906
• Arcy-Sainte-Restitue on Google Maps
• Arcy-Sainte-Restitue on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website (French)
• Arcy Ste Refutute on the 1750 Cassini Map
• Arcy-Sainte-Restitue on the INSEE website (French)
• INSEE (French)

Notes and references

Notes

1. At the beginning of the 21st century, the methods of identification have been modified by law No. 2002-276 of 27 February 2002 , the so-called "law of local democracy" and in particular Title V "census operations" which allow, after a transitional period running from 2004 to 2008, the annual publication of the legal population of the different French administrative districts. For municipalities with a population greater than 10,000 inhabitants, a sample survey is conducted annually, the entire territory of these municipalities is taken into account at the end of the period of five years. The first "legal population" after 1999 under this new law came into force on 1 January 2009 and was based on the census of 2006.

References

1. Google Maps
2. List of Mayors of France
3. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00115504 Chateau of Branges (French)
4. Public Laundries website
5. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00115505 Church of Saint Martin (French)
6. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM02001414 Part of a Mural: Greenery of birds (French)
7. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM02000035 Bas-relief and a Retable from the Altar in the Chapel of the Virgin (French)
8. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM02000034 Lectern (French)
9. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM02000033 2 Consoles (French)
10. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM02000032 Panelling on the Walls (French)
11. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM02000031 Panelling on the Walls (3) (French)
12. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM02000030 Baptismal font (French)
13. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM02000029 Cross (French)
14. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM02000028 Chasse of Saint Restitue (French)