Ayssènes is a commune in the Aveyrondepartment in the Occitanie region of southern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Ayssenols or Ayssenoles.
Geography
Ayssènes is located some 25 km west of Millau and 7 km south-east of Alrance. Access to the commune is by the D510 road from Villefranche-de-Panat in the west which passes through the commune by a circuitous route to the village then continues south across the river to join the D200 on the opposite bank. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of:
Ardennes
Le Bastizou
Cabière
Calmels
Le Caussanal
La Caze
La Clerguie
Coupiaguet
Le Crouzet
Les Esclots
Lescure
Melet
Le Pouget
Rentières
Saint-Rémy
Vabrette
Valergues
Verdalle
Vernet
The commune is mainly forest with large areas of farmland. The southern border of the commune is formed by the Tarn river which is dammed just south-west of the commune to form a long lake along the southern border. From the dam the Tarn continues south-west to eventually join the Garonne just west of Moissac. The Ruisseau de Vernobre rises in the north of the commune and flows south, gathering many tributaries, to join the Tarn. The Ruisseau de Coudols flows from the north-east, gathering some tributaries in the commune, and joins the Tarn at the same point as the Ruisseau de Vernobre.
Neighbouring communes and villages
History
Middle Ages
The village was built on a ridge overlooking the Tarn and was a direct link between the Lévézou Plateau and Raspes du Tarn. There was once a fortress on the peak of Roc Saint-Jean. It belonged to the Count of Rodez who maintained a garrison in order to maintain his influence over the southern Rouergue. Prestigious guests stayed at this location including the King of France, Charles VII, on 13 May 1437 while returning from Languedoc where he had been to restore order.
Modern Era
The castle was the subject of much covetousness during the wars of religion. In October 1586 the army of the Duke of Joyeuse, Anne de Joyeuse - brother of King Henry III, tried to besiege it. The Captain of the garrison made a ploy and the duke's army retreated towards the plateau of Saint-Victor which was where the garrison captain attacked the camp at night - taking fifty horses and capturing several soldiers. The fortress became dangerous for the kingdom and was destroyed in 1629 by order of Cardinal Richelieu. Today nothing remains but the location has one of the most beautiful views in the region.
Contemporary era
The commune consisted of four parishes in the second half of the 19th century with a population of around 1500. Today there are no more than 213 year-round residents.
Heraldry
Administration
List of Successive Mayors
From
To
Name
Party
Position
1875
1888
Galtier Calmeyrac
1888
1889
Basile Bonnefous
1889
1892
Félix Galtier
1892
1904
Paulin Brengues
1904
1910
Justin Fabre
1910
1912
Camille Bou
1912
1914
Edouard Cambefort
1914
1919
Benoît Costes
1919
1953
Edouard Cambefort
1953
1995
René Arles
1995
2020
Marie-Chantal Calmes-Bou
Demography
In 2010 the commune had 214 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known from the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1793. From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger communes that have a sample survey every year.
Pierre-Damien Hèbles. Priest for Ayssènes from 1903 to 1944, member of the literary society of Aveyron, historian for the Raspes du Tarn region. He wrote three manuscripts on local history after 40 years of research in the departmental archives and deeds.
Gaston Boulouis Priest, Professor of Literature at the Seminary Minor of Saint Pierre and at the Sainte Marie de Rodez Institution. Canon, historian and occitan scholar at the end of his life. He published several historical books on the region as well as an autobiography and a collection of Occitan proverbs.
Alain Marc. Politician, Municipal councillor for Ayssènes from 2001 to 2004, he has been MP for Aveyron since 2007.
