Cerizay

Cerizay
Commune
Coat of arms
Location of Cerizay
Cerizay Show map of France Cerizay Show map of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Coordinates: 46°49′20″N 0°39′48″W
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Deux-Sèvres
Arrondissement	Bressuire
Canton	Cerizay
Intercommunality	CA Bocage Bressuirais
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Johnny Brosseau[1]
Area ^1	18.55 km^2 (7.16 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]	4,797
• Density	260/km^2 (670/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	79062 /79140
Elevation	143–217 m (469–712 ft) (avg. 173 m or 568 ft)
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km^2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Ceriz Ay Cathedral mid

Cerizay (French pronunciation: [səʁizɛ]) is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France.

History

The name Cerizay probably originated during the closing centuries of the Roman occupation. During the Middle Ages the old town centre was situated beside a feudal castle. The last two towers of the castle, along with its 12th century chapel, were destroyed when the present (rather flamboyant) church was constructed in 1890.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	3,582	—
1975	4,687	+3.92%
1982	4,881	+0.58%
1990	4,787	−0.24%
1999	4,589	−0.47%
2007	4,591	+0.01%
2012	4,734	+0.62%
2017	4,768	+0.14%
Source: INSEE[3]

Economy

The automotive coachbuilder firm Heuliez had its main production plant on the outskirts of the town. They have been involved in the production of various niche models for French car manufacturers. The firm currently construct the roof module for the Peugeot 206CC and till 2009 built the Vauxhall/Opel Tigra Twin Top. Between June 2011 and December 2013, the "Mia", an electric car developed in Germany, was built under contract with an annual output of 10,000 units.

People

Famous residents include:

• Philippe de Mornay

Twin towns

• 

  Wall plaque in St Martin's Church, the parish church of Chipping Ongar, Essex, England

  Chipping Ongar, England.

See also

• Communes of the Deux-Sèvres department

References

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. Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE