La Souterraine

Commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

(2020–2026) Étienne Lejeune^[1]Area37.07 km² (14.31 sq mi)Population4,933 • Density130/km² (340/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal codeElevation284–456 m (932–1,496 ft)¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

La Souterraine (French pronunciation: [la sutɛʁɛn]; Limousin: La Sotarrana) is a commune in the Creuse department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in central France.

Geography

La Souterraine is an area of farming and light industry, comprising the town and a few small hamlets. It is situated some 20 miles (32 km) west of Guéret, at the junction of the D1, D912, D951 and the N145 roads. It is also served by a TER railway link. The small river Sédelle, a tributary of the Creuse, flows through the town. The sources of the Benaize, a tributary of the Anglin, and the Brame, a tributary of the Gartempe, are both in the commune.

History

There is evidence of pre-Roman occupation here, attested by the discovery of Stone Age tools and a menhir. Remains of Roman villas and temples have been unearthed. In medieval times, a church and fortified walls were built. The name of the town, translating as ‘subterranean’, comes from the underground parts of the church, the crypt.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	5,104	—
1975	5,302	+0.55%
1982	5,690	+1.01%
1990	5,459	−0.52%
1999	5,320	−0.29%
2007	5,375	+0.13%
2012	5,437	+0.23%
2017	5,207	−0.86%
Source: INSEE[3]

Sights

• The church dating from the 11th century, with its Roman crypt.
• The 15th-century Manorhouse de Châteaurenaud.
• The 13th-century gate, the Porte de St.Jean, and the rest of the ramparts.
• A feudal motte, circular tower and the castle at Bridiers.
• The 18th-century chapel of the hospital.
• The ancient chapel of Sainte-Eutrope.
• The 14th-century church at Bussière-Madeleine.

See also

• Communes of the Creuse department

References

External links

• Official website of La Souterraine (in French)