Lesparre-Médoc (French pronunciation: [lɛspaʁ medɔk] ; Occitan: L'Esparra de Medòc, [lespaˈra ˈde meˈðɔk]), commonly known as Lesparre (L'Esparra), is a commune in the Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.

Lesparre-Médoc
The church in Lesparre
The church in Lesparre
Coat of arms of Lesparre-Médoc
Location of Lesparre-Médoc
Map
Lesparre-Médoc is located in France
Lesparre-Médoc
Lesparre-Médoc
Lesparre-Médoc is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Lesparre-Médoc
Lesparre-Médoc
Coordinates: 45°18′28″N 0°56′11″W / 45.3078°N 0.9364°W / 45.3078; -0.9364
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentGironde
ArrondissementLesparre-Médoc
CantonLe Nord-Médoc
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Bernard Guiraud[1]
Area
1
36.97 km2 (14.27 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
5,844
 • Density160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
33240 /33340
Elevation7–34 m (23–112 ft)
(avg. 4 m or 13 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography edit

Lesparre is on the Médoc peninsula about 80 km north of Bordeaux.

History edit

Traces of human occupation from the Neolithic era have been discovered in the town. Before the arrival of the Romans, the area was inhabited by the Biturges, a Celtic tribe. After the Roman Empire collapsed, various peoples such as the Arabs and Normans came into the area. During the rule of Charlemagne, a castle was built to protect the town from further invasions. In the High Middle Ages it was the site of castle. The troubadour Aimeric de Belenoi was born here. In 1790, the town was promoted to district capital. During WWII, the town was the site of guerilla warfare with German troops. During the 20th century, the infrastructure of the town was expanded and the population grew to 5,200 people.

Population edit

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 818—    
1800 800−0.32%
1806 919+2.34%
1821 950+0.22%
1831 1,232+2.63%
1836 1,404+2.65%
1841 1,521+1.61%
1846 1,605+1.08%
1851 1,677+0.88%
1856 3,482+15.73%
1861 3,633+0.85%
1866 3,726+0.51%
1872 3,656−0.32%
1876 3,794+0.93%
1881 4,145+1.79%
1886 4,059−0.42%
1891 3,972−0.43%
1896 4,038+0.33%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 3,959−0.39%
1906 3,840−0.61%
1911 3,699−0.75%
1921 3,267−1.23%
1926 3,419+0.91%
1931 3,422+0.02%
1936 3,219−1.22%
1946 3,101−0.37%
1954 3,378+1.08%
1962 3,443+0.24%
1968 3,563+0.57%
1975 3,814+0.98%
1982 4,217+1.45%
1990 4,661+1.26%
1999 4,855+0.45%
2007 5,258+1.00%
2012 5,656+1.47%
2017 5,801+0.51%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2017)[4]

International relations edit

Lesparre is twinned with Drayton in the Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire, England.[5]

Notable persons edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Lesparre-Médoc, EHESS (in French).
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ "Subventions à la baisse, la grogne des associations". sudouest.fr. Retrieved 9 April 2018.