Belloc-Saint-Clamens is a commune in the Gers department in the region of Occitania in southwestern France.
Geography
Belloc-Saint-Clamens is located in the southern part of the Gers department, in the historic and cultural region of Astarac. The Petite Baïse river forms part of the commune's northeastern border. The commune covers an area of 10.49 km² (4.05 sq mi) and its elevation ranges from 159 to 272 meters (522–892 ft), with an average elevation of approximately 255 meters (837 ft). It is situated in seismic zone 2.
Administration
The commune is part of the arrondissement of Mirande and the canton of Mirande-Astarac. As of the 2020–2026 term, the mayor is Claudine Ladois. The postal code is 32300 and the INSEE code is 32042.
Demographics
The population of Belloc-Saint-Clamens has declined over the past several decades. In 1962, the population was 182; by 1968 it was 177; in 1975 it fell to 144; in 1982 it was 143; in 1990 it rose slightly to 147; in 1999 it was 148; and in 2008 it was 140. As of 2023, the population is estimated at 136, giving a population density of approximately 13.0 inhabitants per km².
Land Use
According to the European Corine Land Cover database, as of 2018, 81.9% of the commune's land was agricultural (47.5% arable land, 27% heterogeneous agricultural areas, and 7.4% grasslands), while 18.1% was forested.
Culture and Heritage
Chapel of Saint-Clamens
The commune features a Romanesque chapel dating from the 11th century, located on the Way of Saint James (Santiago de Compostela). It has been listed as a historical monument since 1890. The chapel is dedicated to Pope Clement I (pope from 89 to 97 AD), and the name "Saint-Clamens" is a Gascon form of the name Clement.
The chapel contains notable features including:
- A 4th-century Gallo-Roman funerary cippus beneath the rustic awning.
- An octagonal baptismal vat decorated with vine motifs (pampre).
- 15th-century paintings on the walls.
- A 4th-century paleo-Christian marble sarcophagus from Saint-Béat (school of Arles), excavated in 1864, which now serves as the base for the altar. It is richly carved with harvest scenes and allegories about the flow of life.
- 12th-century frescoes depicting a crucifixion on the north side.
- The southern portal dates from the 16th century.
Church of the Assumption
The Church of the Assumption (renamed in the 19th century and recently restored) dominates the center of the village with its rectangular tower ending in a terrace.
Castral Sites
- Belloc castral site: A castle is mentioned in 1209 in the Berdoues cartulary, then belonging to the Montesquiou family and partly to the Counts of Astarac. No visible remnants remain above ground.
- Saint-Clamens castral site: A castle reported as ruined as early as 1198 in the cartulary of Berdoues.
- Castral motte of Serres: Mentioned in 1174 as a possession of the lords of Marrast.
See Also
- Communes of the Gers department
