Fronsac (French pronunciation: [fʁɔ̃sak]; Occitan: Fronçac) is a commune in the Gironde department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. The town gave its name to the Fronsac AOC wine.

Fronsac
The church in Fronsac
The church in Fronsac
Coat of arms of Fronsac
Location of Fronsac
Map
Fronsac is located in France
Fronsac
Fronsac
Fronsac is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Fronsac
Fronsac
Coordinates: 44°55′30″N 0°16′19″W / 44.925°N 0.272°W / 44.925; -0.272
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentGironde
ArrondissementLibourne
CantonLe Libournais-Fronsadais
IntercommunalityFronsadais
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Marcel Durant[1]
Area
1
15.29 km2 (5.90 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,120
 • Density73/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
33174 /33126
Elevation1–84 m (3.3–275.6 ft)
(avg. 30 m or 98 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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The commune is situated in the Fronsadais [fr] and is bordered on the south by the river Dordogne and on the east by the river Isle, which separates it from Libourne. Fronsac is 40 km northeast of Bordeaux and 5 km northwest of Libourne and the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol appellations.

 
The tidal bore's viaduct allows the A89 motorway to cross the Dordogne, between Fronsac (on the right bank) and Arveyres

History

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Fronsac's mound owes its history to its privileged position. It was the site of the Gauls' market, the Romans erected an altar there, and Charlemagne built a fortified camp on the mound ("Franciacus") in 769, where the Basques led by duke Lupo came to pledge allegiance to the Frankish King after Aquitaine's submission. In 849, Fronsac was pillaged by Hasting, the chief of the Vikings.[3] The Marechal of Richelieu had a "folly" built there, to an extravagant architectural design, where he held courtly entertainments. As word spread of these events, the renown of Fronsac's wines was carried with it to the Court of Versailles. In the 18th Century, the names of Fronsac and Canon Fronsac enjoyed a very good reputation. It was at this time that the concept of "cru" first appeared in the Libournais.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
19621,230—    
19681,155−6.1%
19751,129−2.3%
19821,170+3.6%
19901,067−8.8%
19991,042−2.3%
20081,046+0.4%

Administration

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List of Mayors
Period Name Party Background
1983–present (re-elected in May 2020) Marcel Durant The Republicans Retired farmer

Sights

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Personalities

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International Relations

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Wine

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Situated on the right bank of the Gironde River, the commune is an appellation in itself, as well as a sub-appellation, Canon-Fronsac AOC.

See also

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References

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  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" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Michel Dillange (1995). Les Comtes de Poitou, Ducs d'Aquitaine (778–1204) (in French) (Geste éditions, coll. ed.). La Crèche. p. 56. ISBN 2-910919-09-9.
  4. ^ Directory of Twinned Towns and Cities
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