Créon
History of Créon
The history of Créon is closely linked to that of the Duchy of Aquitaine and Bordeaux.
The immense duchy was annexed to the kingdom of France as early as the 9th century. From then on, for the sake of independence, the Dukes of Aquitaine sought to expand their territory. Nothing stopped this desire for expansion, not even the British occupation of the region in the 13th and 15th centuries. Renamed Guyenne by the occupiers, the province of Aquitaine saw the birth of many bastides, a sort of new town bordered by a protective wall.
Créon thus saw the light of day in 1315, founded by Amaury, Lord of Craon, from a noble family of Anjou.
A must-see in the Bordeaux hinterland, located in the heart of Entre-Deux-Mers, fertile land between the Garonne and the Dordogne, Créon flourishes between vineyards and hills, rivers and forests.
The bastide was long bordered by a circular wooden wall accessible by four entrances. The people of Créonnais still call the route of the enclosure still visible today.
The essentials of Créon
The famous bastides of Entre-Deux-Mers are six in number and among them, Créon stands out for its medieval town center and its remarkable 14th century arcaded square where a famous local producers' market is still held every Wednesday morning.
The Hôtel de la Prévôté, a royal building erected in the 16th century, has become the town hall of Créon.
Very close to Creon, the architecture, Romanesque sculptures and the eventful history of the Abbey of Sauve-Majeure built between the 11th and 13th centuries are worth a visit. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1840, the abbey, on the road to Saint Jacques de Compostela, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The bastide is also an excellent stopover for exploring the Entre-Deux-Mers, renowned for its vineyards and clairets, in particular thanks to the nearby Castles of Castelnau and Bisqueytan.
On the natural side, the green and hilly region encourages all types of walks and you can also get your fill of sensations in the forest of Arbor et Sens park.
Finally, labeled "bike station", Créon is one of the official stages of the Labépie cycle path integrated into the Canal des 2 Mers, which connects the Atlantic and the Mediterranean by bicycle.
Living in Créon
In addition to its remarkable network of cycle paths at the gates of Bordeaux Métropole, Créon nestles in the heart of Little Tuscany, a bucolic region in the Bordeaux hinterland.
This geographical location has earned it the doubling of its population in fifteen years to now approach 5,000 inhabitants.
Renowned for the variety and quality of its local shops, the city combines the historic center and new neighborhoods while being part of the Cittaslow approach. The objective is to preserve the heritage, the environment, the traditions and the pace of life of a rural municipality while actively working for its development.
25 km from Bordeaux, Créon offers a pleasant compromise between countryside and city.
Served by regular bus lines connecting the metropolis, the city has a childcare center, nursery schools, public and private elementary schools and a college. The project to build a high school is underway.
Doctors, dentists, physiotherapists have their practices there. There is also a pharmacy, a post office, a police station and a fire station.
Numerous cultural and sporting activities are also accessible: library, games library, city-stadium, roller and skate track, tennis, martial arts room, etc ...
In Créon, gourmets will take advantage of its weekly farmers' market and nature lovers will gladly take the trails that wind between town and forest on foot or by bike.
For more information: http://www.mairie-creon.fr/