Barzan, Charente-Maritime
Barzan (French pronunciation: [baʁzɑ̃]) is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France.
Barzan | |
|---|---|
View of Barzan village | |
Location of Barzan | |
Barzan Barzan | |
| Coordinates: 45°31′36″N 0°51′17″W | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Department | Charente-Maritime |
| Arrondissement | Saintes |
| Canton | Saintonge Estuaire |
| Intercommunality | CA Royan Atlantique |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Robert Maigre |
| Area 1 | 8.07 km2 (3.12 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | 464 |
| • Density | 57/km2 (150/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 17034 /17120 |
| Elevation | 0–47 m (0–154 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Barzanais or Barzanaises.
The commune is the site of a major Gallo-Roman site of Barzan structured excavations carried out since 1994. Aerial photographs and the first archaeological excavations have revealed the presence of a Gallo-Roman port city of great importance (a monumental Gallo-Roman temple, baths, forum, theatre etc.). Other remains are the subject of annual excavations.
It seems almost certain that this Gallo-Roman town is the Novioregum indicated in the Antonine Itinerary. It could also be the Portus Santonum (the port of the Santones) described by Ptolemy.