SECONDIGNY. SECONDIGNY by Mick Austin

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1 Spotlight On... SECONDIGNY Slap bang in the middle of the Deux- Sèvres department at the intersection of two main county roads - Bressuire/Niort and Parthenay/La Chataigneraie - Secondigny has never claimed to be one of the prettiest towns in France. While others battle for that honour Secondigny carries on doing what it does best: providing the peaceful, relaxing way of life many ex- pats dream of when they take the plunge and move to La Belle France. SECONDIGNY by Mick Austin Nestling in the Gâtine Vendéenne, one of four historical areas in the Deux- Sèvres, the town is surrounded by rolling meadows and apple orchards and the 370 hectares of Secondigny forest with its nature reserves and woodland trails. It is rich in springs and small rivers which once fuelled many mills built on the banks of the River Thouet. It is also close to the source of the river Sèvre- Nantaise. Photos: Above, Secondigny orchards; Below, Pomm Expo and village centre. Thanks to for photos. Nowadays, breeding the local Parthenaise cows and apple production are the mainstays of the local agricultural economy but there is also Gâtine lamb and local cheeses on offer. Despite that rural ambience, Secondigny is a bustling, vibrant town with all the usual amenities - supermarket, fishmonger, butchers, bakers, pharmacies, banks etc - but it is perhaps becoming better known for two annual events that attract thousands of visitors, the Pomm Expo and the DSM Trade Fair. The Pomm Expo celebrates its 60th year in October 2014 and the place will be throbbing with a week of entertainment organised around the theme of the apple in all its forms. Which is quite apt as Secondigny is known as the apple capital of France, with its 1000 hectares of orchards and around 45,000 tons of fruit harvested every year. The most famous variety, and one that still has a special place in the hearts of the Gâtinais, is the Clochard, commonly known as Apple Tramp. Legend has it that the picked apples were dumped on a bed of sticks and covered with straw to protect them from the cold nights and were compared to the tramps who walked the roads of France sleeping under the stars. Pomm Expo attracts more than 10,000 visitors over the week and includes regional products, teaching workshops, painting exhibitions, a cycle race, fair, school choir concert and a huge vide grenier/market. This year s event is Saturday 11th - Sunday 19th October Saturday, September 20 sees The DSM Trade Fair (Foire Commerçiale). It s not been going as long as Pomm Expo (three years in fact) but it s proving a great place for local artisans to show off their wares. From jewellery to estate agency, reflexology to fosse septique installation and digger hire to double- glazed windows, there is something for everyone. Last year saw 72 exhibitors and more than 650 people through the doors. Integration into the community is vital for a successful business and Secondigny is lucky to have a Mayor in Gérard Vitré who is committed to preserving the entente cordiale. No wonder people like living there! The Deux-Sèvres Monthly 23

2 History In 1068 Jocelyn, Lord of Parthenay, who had already created a defensive line surrounding the Gâtine, decided to establish a town at Castum Secondignacum, which already had a castle with a chapel built on a mound surrounded by marshland. He asked the monks of Bourgueil to build a church with three naves, but the problem was the church kept collapsing probably due to the closeness of the moat protecting the castle and had to be rebuilt several times over the ensuing years. In 1200, the Lords of Parthenay with cash aid from the English fortified the town, surrounding it with a high wall 362 metres long reinforced by high towers and two high gates with drawbridges. No Lord ever got to live in the castle situated at the present No27 Rue de la Vendée. Following the 100 Years War, France was relatively peaceful and the land became more profitable. In 1579 the 140 hectare lake stretching from Prévoireau to Chef du Pont was drained to recover grassland for livestock. But during the 18th Century, crippling Royal loads (taxes) sent local lords into exile, leaving swathes of land fallow and the peasants to suffer. Many small farmers only survived by taking on secondary work in the forests or by using looms. 1901: Dairy built in Belle Fontaine employing 18 men and producing butter that tasted of nuts. It closed in : The cemetery on the corner of the road to Saint Aubin was moved 500 metres farther out of the town. The same year saw electric lighting introduced. 1932: Salle des Fêtes built with a market place on the ground floor. 1950: Drinking water supply installed. 1952: Traffic lights at the main crossroads. 1960: New market place built but destroyed in : The first apple exhibition. 1976: Opening of the Lac des Effres. 1978: Olympic sized swimming pool (70m x 18m) opened at Lac des Effres. 2004: Creation of the industrial area Bellevue 2006: New salle des fetes (la Salla Alauna) built at Lac des Effres. 2007: New Library built. 2009: Demise of the outdoor swimming pool at lac des Effres. 2012: Newly constructed public swimming pool with flume opened at the campsite at Lac des Effres. Big changes came in 1845 with the building of the long, straight roads from Champdeniers to Angers via Bressuire and La Roche to Parthenay via Secondigny. These roads required massive amounts of stone and although some came from local quarries like the Bartière, it was not enough. Local fortifications suffered and the last remains of the south tower and the west door were used to pave new roads into the village. Secondigny extended outside of the old walls, first towards Parthenay and Chef du Pont and then towards Bressuire, by creating a market place, a town hall and finally the first schools. The Cherbonneau school for girls was built in 1888, became a military hospital in World War One, then a primary school and a college before being demolished in Secondigny s population reached a peak of 2400 inhabitants towards the end of the 19th Century. Latest figures put it at under In 1900, big business came to town. The TDS line (departmental tramway in the Deux- Sèvres, but better known locally as the train that often ran off the rails ) was built and ran until Above Église Sainte-Eulalie, left in 1899, right: Photos: www. histoire.secondigny.free.fr & Sarah Berry 24 The Deux-Sèvres Monthly

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5 FACT FILE... Azay- sur- Thouet: 5 mins Fenery: 5 mins Le Beugnon: 10 mins Pamplie: 10 mins Neuvy Bouin: 10 mins Parthenay: 10 mins Vernoux- en- Gatîne: 10mins L Absie: 15 mins Bressuire: 20 mins Niort: 30 mins Photo: Plan d eau, Lac des Effres Leisure amenities Sports facilities are excellent and include a stadium, sports hall, new outdoor swimming pool, tennis, golf, judo, horse riding, archery and cycling. The ten hectares of Lake Effres has various water sports, fine fishing spots, paddle boats and plenty of footpaths for walking and relaxing. There s also a bar, restaurant, campsite and picnic and play areas. Things to see The Le Bois de La Mosnerie discovery trail offers walkers peace and quiet along shaded pathways, while cyclists can try various routes around the area ( The Ronde des Vergers trail (14km round and shaped like an apple!) takes you right into the bocage countryside, revealing large apple orchards including the Verger Conservatoire des Croqueurs de Pommes, maintained by volunteers dedicated to the preservation of old varieties of apple trees. There s also an 11km circuit through the forest called La Fôret domaniale de Secondigny at nearby Le Retail. Contacts Deux- Sèvres tourist info: deux- sevres.com Gâtine tourist info: gatine.org Pomm Expo: DSM Trade Fair: Secondigny is in the department of Deux- Sèvres (79), in the region of Poitou- Charentes Population: 1715 in 2007 Airports: Poitiers (50 minutes), La Rochelle (90 minutes), Nantes (115 minutes) Nearby places to visit: Parthenay medieval town (14km) Marais- Poitevin marshes and Coulon (35km) Puy de Fou theme park (50km) Mervent wildlife park (27km) Chateau de Cherveux (22km) Aire de Repos/pique-nique Plan d eau Fishing Lake Cycle Routes Walking Routes Bars & Restaurants Cashpoint Fuel Station Campsite Supermarket Mick Austin is a freelance journalist based in the Pays- de- la- Loire. He has had his work published in several expat magazines and newspapers and has also written the Mayenne Tourist Board s only English- language brochure. He also runs a gite business at Zone Artisanale Bellevue SECONDIGNY Tél : Fax : Gros Œuvre Menuiseries Bois Panneaux Couverture Isolation Carrelage Outillage Environnement Livraisons Ouvert du Lundi au Vendredi : de 8 H à 12 H et de 13 H 45 à 17 H 30 Le samedi : de 9 H à 12 H The Deux-Sèvres Monthly 27