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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Balzac
|commune status = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
|image = Balzac2.12.JPG
|caption = Old well in front of the Chateau
|image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Balzac (Charente).svg
|arrondissement = Angoulême
|canton = Gond-Pontouvre
|INSEE = 16026
|postal code = 16430
|mayor = Jean-Claude Courari<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term = 2020–2026
|intercommunality = CA [[Grand Angoulême]]
|coordinates = {{coord|45.7106|0.1372|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m = 40
|elevation min m = 30
|elevation max m = 102
|area km2 = 9.64
|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}

'''Balzac''' ({{IPA|fr|balzak}}) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Charente]] [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]] region of south-western [[France]].

==Geography==
Balzac is located some 7 km north-west of [[Angoulême]]. Access to the commune is by the D737 from Angoulême which passes through the east of the commune and the town continuing north to [[Montignac-Charente]]. The D105 branches off the D737 north of the town and goes east to [[Champniers, Charente|Champniers]]. The D406 also branches off the D737 and goes west to [[Vindelle]]. Apart from the town there are the hamlets of Coursac, La Chapelle, Les Chabots, and Les Courlis in the commune. The commune is mostly farmland with a small forest in the south-west and a significant urban area for the town.<ref name=Google>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Balzac,+France/@45.7166725,0.1321515,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47fe2e2f94140dab:0xbf90aa26435407cf Google Maps]</ref>

===Geology and terrain===
Balzac occupies the interior of a wide bend of the [[Charente (river)|Charente]]. The bedrock of the large eastern half of the commune, which is the highest in altitude, consists of [[limestone]] dating from the [[Upper Jurassic]] ([[Kimmeridgian]]) period.

The centre of the town, between Labbés, Genin, and Texier, is located on old alluvium from the [[Quaternary]] period.

The western part of the commune, between La Chapelle and Chabots, contains other alluvial deposits which form a low [[Terrace (geology)|terrace]]. The river bed (floodplain) is itself made up of more recent alluvium ([[silt]], sandy clay, and [[peat]]).<ref>[http://infoterre.brgm.fr/viewer/MainTileForward.do# Infoterre Visualiser] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423154453/http://infoterre.brgm.fr/viewer/MainTileForward.do |date=2017-04-23 }}, BRGM website {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>BRGM Map on [[Géoportail]] {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>[http://ficheinfoterre.brgm.fr/Notices/0685N.pdf Notice on the Mansle page], BRGM, 1984, Infoterre website, consulted on 13 November 2011 {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>[http://ficheinfoterre.brgm.fr/Notices/0709N.pdf Notice on the Angoulême page], BRGM, 1973, Infoterre website, consulted on 17 November 2011 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

The terrain that separates the valley of the Charente from that of the ''Argence'' forms a kind of long cliff, very high and steep in its northern part, which is the concave side of the bend in the river near the villages of Coursac and Font-Saint-Martin, which gradually decreases in height to end at the foot of the Chateau of Balzac.

The highest point in the commune is at an altitude of 102 m east at Puylebin to the east of Coursac. The lowest point is 30 m on the Charente river at the confluence of the Argence. The village is about 60 m above sea level.<ref name="ign">IGN Map on [[Géoportail]] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Hydrography===
The river [[Charente (river)|Charente]] forms the entire south, west, and north-west border of the commune as it flows around the commune and continues south-east to eventually join the [[Atlantic Ocean]] at [[Rochefort, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]]. The ''Argence'' flows from the north-east and forms much of the eastern border where it joins the Charente in the south-eastern corner of the commune.<ref name=Google/>

===Climate===
The climate is oceanic Aquitaine and similar to the town of Cognac where the departmental weather station is located.

{{Meteo France
|Town=Balzac<ref>[http://www.lameteo.org/index.php/climatologie/1598-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-cognac Data from the Station at Cognac] from 1981 to 2010 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
|Sunshine=2,027
|Rain=763
|Snow=3
|Storm=23
|Fog=54
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Cognac
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 9.4
|Feb high C = 11.0
|Mar high C = 14.4
|Apr high C = 16.9
|May high C = 20.8
|Jun high C = 24.3
|Jul high C = 26.8
|Aug high C = 26.7
|Sep high C = 23.5
|Oct high C = 19.0
|Nov high C = 13.0
|Dec high C = 9.8
|year high C = 18.0
|Jan mean C = 6.1
|Feb mean C = 6.9
|Mar mean C = 9.7
|Apr mean C = 11.9
|May mean C = 15.8
|Jun mean C = 19.0
|Jul mean C = 21.1
|Aug mean C = 20.9
|Sep mean C = 17.9
|Oct mean C = 14.4
|Nov mean C = 9.3
|Dec mean C = 6.6
|year mean C = 13.3
|Jan low C = 2.8
|Feb low C = 2.8
|Mar low C = 4.9
|Apr low C = 6.9
|May low C = 10.6
|Jun low C = 13.6
|Jul low C = 15.3
|Aug low C = 15.0
|Sep low C = 12.3
|Oct low C = 9.9
|Nov low C = 5.6
|Dec low C = 3.3
|year low C = 8.6
|Jan precipitation mm = 70.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 51.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 57.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 69.6
|May precipitation mm = 63.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 50.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 47.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 45.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 59.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 79.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 85.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 83.1
|year precipitation mm = 762.8
|Jan precipitation days = 11.6
|Feb precipitation days = 9.2
|Mar precipitation days = 10.1
|Apr precipitation days = 11.2
|May precipitation days = 10.5
|Jun precipitation days = 7.4
|Jul precipitation days = 6.9
|Aug precipitation days = 6.5
|Sep precipitation days = 8.0
|Oct precipitation days = 11.2
|Nov precipitation days = 11.5
|Dec precipitation days = 11.6
|year precipitation days = 115.7
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan sun = 77.3
|Feb sun = 111.1
|Mar sun = 160.2
|Apr sun = 179.3
|May sun = 211.4
|Jun sun = 351.4
|Jul sun = 254.6
|Aug sun = 239.4
|Sep sun = 219.3
|Oct sun = 141.6
|Nov sun = 91.4
|Dec sun = 89.6
|year sun = 2026.6
|source 1 = [http://www.lameteo.org/index.php/climatologie/1598-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-cognac Meteorological data for Cognac - 59m altitude, from 1981 to 2010] January 2015 {{in lang|fr}}
}}

[[File:Styrieix argence.JPG|thumb|Confluence of the Argence with the Charente]]
[[Image:Charente vindelle.jpg|thumb|View of Font-Saint-Martin in the Charente Valley]]

===Neighbouring communes and villages===
{{Geographic location
|width=auto
|Centre = Balzac
|North = [[Vars, Charente|Vars]]
|Northeast = [[Anais, Charente|Anais]]
|East = [[Champniers, Charente|Champniers]]
|Southeast = [[Gond-Pontouvre]]
|South =
|Southwest =
|West = [[Asnières-sur-Nouère]]
|Northwest = [[Vindelle]]
}}
<ref name=Google/>

==Toponymy==
Old forms of the name ''Balzac'' are ''Balazacum'' and ''Balazaco'' in 1298.<ref>[http://www.guyenne.fr/ArchivesPerigord/Charente/Documents%20Charente/Livre_des_fiefs.htm#p96 ''Book of Fiefs of Guillaume de Blaye, Bishop of Angoulême (the "Liber feodorum")''], Jean Nanglard, Vol. 5, Société archéologique et historique de la Charente, 1905 (1st ed. 1273), 404 p., p. 96, 228, 253, 274 {{in lang|la}}</ref>

According to Dauzat, the origin of the name ''Balzac'' dates back to a [[Gallo-Roman]] person ''Ballitius'', which itself is derived from ''Ballius'', to which is added the suffix ''-acum'' which would give ''Ballitiacum'' or "Domain of Ballitius".<ref>[[Albert Dauzat]] and [[Charles Rostaing]], ''Etymological Dictionary of place names in France'', Paris, Librairie Guénégaud, 1989, 738 p. ({{ISBN|2-85023-076-6}}), p. 50 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> According to other sources, ''Balatius'' was the name of a [[Gaul|Gallic]] man, derived from ''Balatos''.<ref>Revue celtique, 1907, p.94 {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>Jean Talbert, ''Origin of Place Names'', 1928 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

==History==
Aerial archaeology has revealed evidence of a [[Neolithic]] [[Bronze Age]] [[Promontory fort]] on the slopes of Coursac in a position dominating the Charente.<ref>Fouilles Claude Burnez and José Gomez de Soto in, Jacques Dassié, ''Aerial Archaeology. Archaeological and Touristic Heritage of Charente'', Alan Sutton, 2001, 176 pages, p. 64 (photo), {{ISBN|2-84253-607-X}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

A Chateau existed in the 12th century and Balzac was a former fief under the [[Bishopric of Angoulême]] and the barony of [[Tourriers]] which was acquired in 1398 by [[Duc de La Rochefoucauld|Guy de La Rochefoucauld]]. From the 12th to the 17th century the chateau passed through many hands. The present chateau was rebuilt on the same site in 1600 by Guillaume Guez and his wife who left from time to time for their house in Angoulême. It was the residence of the family Guez de Balzac and [[Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac]], the "Restorer of the French Language", lived there.

From 4 March to 29 August 1619 [[Marie de' Medici]] was hosted there by the Guez family, "not wishing to stay elsewhere until the peace that made her son [[Louis XIII]]". The castle became the crossroads for personalities of the time during her stay - such as [[Cardinal Richelieu]], the [[Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette|Duke of Épernon]], the [[Cardinal de La Rochefoucauld]], and the [[House of Bethune|Count of Bethune]].<ref>Jean-Paul Gaillard, ''Châteaux, Lodgings, and old Houses of Charente'', Paris, librairie Bruno Sépulchre, 1993 (reprinted 2005), 893 p., p. 91 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

The road to [[Vars, Charente|Vars]] was a transport route by donkey for Salt to the port of [[Angoulême|Basseau]].<ref>André Debord, ''Lay Society in Charente country 10th-12th century'', Picard, 1984, 585 p., {{ISBN|2-7084-0112-2}}, p. 356 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The name ''la Montée des Sauniers'' (Ascent of Salt workers) above Coursac came from this.<ref name="ign"/>

Formerly the ''Terrier de Bourguignol'', then called the ''Plantier de Bourguignone'', located near the ''Pont Suraud'' (Suraud Bridge) on the Argence was a [[dolmen]] called the ''Tomb of Bourguignon'' which was still visible in 1760.<ref>Vigier de la Pile, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NYcOAAAAQAAJ ''History of the Angoumois''], Paris, Derache (1846, Laffite reprint 2002), 1760, 160 p. {{ISBN|2-86276-384-5}}, p. 139 {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>François Corlieu, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NYcOAAAAQAAJ ''Reports in the form of History''], Paris, Derache (1846, Laffite reprint 2002), 1576, 81 p., {{ISBN|2-86276-384-5}}, p. 6 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

At the beginning of the 20th century cherries and peas from Balzac were particularly appreciated from Angoulême to Paris. The fields provided milk feeding two major dairy factories in the commune, run by Messrs. Hortolan and Rochier.<ref>Jules Martin-Buchey, ''Historical and Communal Geography of Charente'', published by the author, Châteauneuf, 1914-1917 (reprint Bruno Sépulchre, Paris, 1984), 422 p., p. 67 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Heraldry===
{{Blazon-arms
|img1=Blason ville fr Balzac (Charente).svg
|legend1=Arms of Balzac<ref>[http://www.balzac.fr/ Balzac official website] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
|text=Coat of Arms

'''Blazon:'''<br/>
''Quarterly, at 1 and 4 Vert, a bouquet in Sable; at 2 and 3 Argent a bugle-horn of Or stringed the same.''
}}

==Administration==
[[File:Balzac1.JPG|thumb|The Town Hall]]
{{incomplete list|date=April 2021}}
'''List of Successive [[Mayor (France)|Mayors]]'''<ref>[http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/resultcommune.php?id=20950 List of Mayors of France] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 1995 || 2026 || Jean-Claude Courari
|}

==Demography==
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Balzatois'' or ''Balzatoises'' in French.<ref>[https://www.habitants.fr/charente-16 Le nom des habitants du 16 - Charente], habitants.fr</ref> Balzac lost 30% of its population in the second half of the 19th century which then stabilised and experienced consistent growth in the last quarter of the 20th century.

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess | 2538 | Balzac }}</ref> and INSEE<ref name=evol2017/>
|1793 |957
|1800 |1016
|1806 |905
|1821 |961
|1831 |1000
|1841 |968
|1846 |942
|1851 |928
|1856 |918
|1861 |838
|1866 |815
|1872 |785
|1876 |780
|1881 |768
|1886 |798
|1891 |727
|1896 |705
|1901 |688
|1906 |708
|1911 |644
|1921 |612
|1926 |605
|1931 |623
|1936 |613
|1946 |621
|1954 |644
|1962 |606
|1968 |687
|1975 |809
|1982 |934
|1990 |1185
|1999 |1237
|2007 |1246
|2012 |1326
|2017 |1337
}}

===Distribution of Age Groups===
[[File:Balzac cc.JPG|thumb|Headquarters building for the Community of communes]]
'''Percentage Distribution of Age Groups in Balzac and Charente Department in 2017'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! !! colspan=2 | Balzac !! colspan=2 | Charente
|-
! Age Range !! Men !! Women !! Men !! Women
|-
| 0 to 14 Years || 17.3 || 16.3 || 16.7 || 14.8
|-
| 15 to 29 Years || 10.6 || 10.9 || 15.7 || 13.8
|-
| 30 to 44 Years || 19.9 || 19.8 || 17.1 || 16.3
|-
| 45 to 59 Years || 22.5 || 22.2 || 21.1 || 20.8
|-
| 60 to 74 Years || 21.9 || 19.1 || 19.6 || 19.8
|-
| 75 to 89 Years || 7.8 || 10.5 || 8.9 || 12.0
|-
| 90 Years+ || 0.0 || 1.2 || 0.9 || 2.4
|}
Source: [[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]]<ref name=evol2017>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-16026 Évolution et structure de la population en 2017: Commune de Balzac (16026)]</ref><ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=DEP-16 Évolution et structure de la population en 2017: Département de la Charente (16)]</ref>

==Facilities==

===Education===
The school is an Inter-communal Educational Grouping (RPI) with Vindelle. Balzac has a primary school (Nursery and from CP to CE2) and Vindelle has an elementary school (from CE2 to CM2). The Jean Caillard High School for Balzac is located in Genins.<ref>[http://web16.ac-poitiers.fr/ia16/circos/ang_nord/etab/rpi.php Inspectorate of the Academy of Charente website] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

==Sites and monuments==
[[File:Balz ch2.JPG|thumb|The Chateau of Balzac]]
[[File:Balz eg1.JPG|thumb|The Church of Saint Martin]]
*The '''Chateau of Balzac''' (17th century){{Mérimée Icon}} is registered as an historical monument.<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104236|PA00104236 Chateau of Balzac}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref> was built by the father of [[Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac]]. This chateau has lodgings which overlook the Charente and is surrounded by a park enclosed by walls with pierced portals. There are also a canal, a fishpond, a [[lavoir]], and a feudal church.
*The '''Parish church of Saint Martin''' is located in the town next to the castle. It is of [[Romanesque architecture]] and dates from the 12th century.<ref>[http://www.balzac.fr/histoire/eglise-saint-martin/ Church of Saint-Martin], Balzac official website, 2012, consulted on 14 March 2014 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

Balzac is also the location of the headquarters of the ''Community of communes of Braconne and Charente''.

===Chateau of Balzac Picture Gallery===
<gallery>
File:Balz ch3.JPG |The Chateau
File:Balzac2.2.jpg|Gate at the Chateau entrance
File:Balzac2.5.jpg|Entrance to the Chateau
File:Balzac2.15.jpg|The Lavoir in the Chateau
File:Balzac2.17.jpg|The fishpond
File:Balzac2.1.JPG|The kitchen in the Chateau
File:Balzac2.8.JPG|The well in front of the Chateau
</gallery>

==Notable people linked to the commune==
*'''[[Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac]]''' (1597–1654), French writer, lived in the Château of Balzac.

==See also==
*[[Communes of the Charente department]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.balzac.fr/ Balzac official website] {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://charente.angouleme.free.fr/angouleme/angouleme/balzac/index.html Balzac on Villages of France website], 2000 {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil?c=0.1372,45.7106&z=7.92265E-5&l=GEOGRAPHICALGRIDSYSTEMS.MAPS.3D$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS@aggregate(1)&l=ADMINISTRATIVEUNITS.BOUNDARIES$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS(1)&permalink=yes Balzac on Géoportail], [[Institut géographique national|National Geographic Institute]] (IGN) website {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://rumsey.geogarage.com/maps/cassinige.html?lat=45.7106&lon=0.1372&zoom=13 ''Balzac'' on the 1750 Cassini Map]

{{Commons category|Balzac (Charente)|Balzac}}

{{Charente communes}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Communes of Charente]]

Balzac, Charente - Revision history

imported>RodRabelo7: replacing {{IPA-fr| → {{IPA|fr| (deprecated template)