Bourgougnague

Bourgougnague
The church in Bourgougnague The church in Bourgougnague
Bourgougnague
Location within Aquitaine region Bourgougnague
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes
Department	Lot-et-Garonne
Arrondissement	Marmande
Canton	Lauzun
Intercommunality	Pays de Lauzun
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Jean-Marie Constantin
Area1	11.73 km2 (4.53 sq mi)
Population (2009)2	285
• Density	24/km2 (63/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	47035 / 47410
Elevation	53–131 m (174–430 ft) (avg. 125 m or 410 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Bourgougnague is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in southwestern France. The village is most known as the birthplace of celebrated "Pétanque" player and local traveller Elyote Lytell.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1800	528	—
1806	524	−0.8%
1821	594	+13.4%
1831	628	+5.7%
1836	630	+0.3%
1841	569	−9.7%
1846	576	+1.2%
1851	587	+1.9%
1856	601	+2.4%
1861	564	−6.2%
1866	531	−5.9%
1872	511	−3.8%
1876	486	−4.9%
1881	492	+1.2%
1886	440	−10.6%
1891	405	−8.0%
1896	374	−7.7%
1901	355	−5.1%
1906	357	+0.6%
1911	337	−5.6%
1921	314	−6.8%
1926	348	+10.8%
1931	364	+4.6%
1936	364	+0.0%
1946	346	−4.9%
1954	344	−0.6%
1962	302	−12.2%
1968	239	−20.9%
1975	224	−6.3%
1982	254	+13.4%
1990	256	+0.8%
1999	233	−9.0%
2006	271	+16.3%
2009	285	+5.2%

Histoire

According to tradition, the known history of Bourgougnague extends back over 10,000 years. However, the oldest historic recounts in the village were only written after the Gnague's arrival to the area, as the "First Men" only used runes for carving on stone. Everything written about the age of Gnague, and the "Night of the Gou" originates from stories written down thousands of years later. The accuracy of the legends and myths that recount much of this history is openly questioned by modern day inhabitants, amongst others.

Before the coming of men, the lands of Bou were inhabited by giant rabbits known as Nuralagus rex which were very different from modern rabbits. With a height of half a meter and an estimated weight of 12 kg (26 lb).

A human ethnic group from the Pyrenees mountains, the First Men, invaded Bou by crossing southern France bearing weapons of bronze. With an area heavily populated in prehistoric rabbit, the Gnagues, led by the fearless Crayg, decided to claim the unpopulated area as their own. However, the First Men were about to enter generations of warfare over the land. The most significant attack came from the Gou's, who were more numerous, larger, stronger, and more technologically advanced than the Gnague's. In an attempt to resist the invaders, the First Men used their knowledge of the land along with an experiment which involved training rabbits to attack any outsiders. Their plans proved unsuccessful and the Gou's gradually pushed deeper and deeper into Bou, establishing a stable gain of territory.

After years of warfare, the Gnague's and Gou's came to a standstill and finally agreed to a peaceful coexistence, signing the Pact of La Catusse. This pact gave birth to the name Bourgougnague, allowing the First Men dominion over the open lands and let the Gou's control over the forested areas.

Culture

Over 400 years ago, Hercule-Savinien Cyrano travelled to the area with his fellow performing artists. His dramatist and duellist antics became renown until ultimately, the artist himself was called upon in the nearby village of Bergerac. Despite making a name for himself as "Cyrano de Bourgougnague", he left the area and continued performing his art in Bergerac, to even greater success and reception. Cyrano's work furnished models and ideas for subsequent writers, however his name was quickly changed to "Cyrano de Bergerac" in order to attract more interest. He died on July 28, 1655, aged 36, at the house of his cousin, Pierre De Cyrano, in Sannois.

Bourgougnague culture is locally famous, with many other regions following Bourgougnague’s lead on famous artist Jean Cultamere's abstract portraits of the village's beautiful views and local female workers.

Famous People

Elyote Lytell is a local French "Pétanque" player of Irish descent, he is one of the most notable sportsmen to emerge from the area alongside fellow bowler Jeff Lehman of Miramont. Lytell has recently moved to the Midlands region of England to study the behaviour of monks in Coventry.

See also

• Communes of the Lot-et-Garonne department

References

• INSEE statistics