Forest of Tronçais
Encyclopedia
The Forest of Tronçais is a French national forest, a forêt domaniale, comprising 10,600 hectares in the Allier
, managed by the Office national des forêts. Its oak
s, planted by Jean-Baptiste Colbert
, minister of Louis XIV
to supply the French navy
, constitute one of the principal stands of oaks in Europe.
Within the forest boundaries are the communes of Braize
, Cérilly
, Isle-et-Bardais
, Le Brethon
, Meaulne
, Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais
, Urçay
, Valigny
and Vitray
.
(9%) and Pedunculate Oak (Q. robur) (8%). There are also Carpinus and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), which is planted in the poorest soils. Trees are harvested on a rotation averaging 250 years.
The oaks of Tronçais, representing some 80% of production, are prized for the barrels coopered for cognac
and the great wines of Bordeaux. They are exported to wineries of California
and elsewhere in the United States, and to Argentina
.
Within the forest 108 Roman habitations that have been discovered, most during recent decades, show that the land was cleared and intensively cultivated under the Roman Empire
; the resulting pocket of increased biodiversity
, initiated by Roman manuring and fertilizing practices, has remained self-sustaining over two millennia and can be detected today. The forest, therefore, is not a relic of the primeval forest that once covered most of France, but was organized by Colbert in 1670, with forethought for the requirements of the French navy
two hundred years hence, the present futaie Colbert, now reduced to a few hectares. Beeches and larch
es were interplanted with the oaks to encourage them to grow with straight tall masts free of knots. By the time the trees were fully mature, the navy was rapidly switching from sail to steam. The forest was diminished by the creation in 1788 of iron forges fed by charcoal from the forest, and by urgent cutting during the French Revolution
and the Napoleonic period. The forest regenerated during the 19th century.
Allier
Allier is a department in central France named after the river Allier.- History :Allier is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Auvergne and Bourbonnais.In 1940, the government of Marshal...
, managed by the Office national des forêts. Its oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s, planted by Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing...
, minister of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
to supply the French navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
, constitute one of the principal stands of oaks in Europe.
Within the forest boundaries are the communes of Braize
Braize
Braize is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Geography:At its widest point, the commune is 8 km across, stretching from the Cher department to the Rond des Landes Blanches. It lies in a valley oriented east and west from La Pacaudière to Les Ris, the lowest point in the...
, Cérilly
Cérilly, Allier
Cérilly is a commune in the Allier department in central France.It is in close proximity to the largest and oldest untouched oak forest in western Europe : the Forest of Tronçais. Many oak trees exceed 250 years in age...
, Isle-et-Bardais
Isle-et-Bardais
Isle-et-Bardais is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:-References:*...
, Le Brethon
Le Brethon
Le Brethon is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:-References:*...
, Meaulne
Meaulne
Meaulne is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:...
, Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais
Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais
Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais is a commune in the Allier department in central France, within the borders of the national Forest of Tronçais.-Population:-References:*...
, Urçay
Urçay
Urçay is a commune in the Allier department in Auvergne in central France.-Population:-References:*...
, Valigny
Valigny
Valigny is a commune in the Allier department in central France....
and Vitray
Vitray
Vitray is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:...
.
Flora
The principal trees are Black Oak (Quercus petraea) (73%), whose ancient name in French, tronce, gave its name to the district, with Beech (Fagus sylvatica)Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
(9%) and Pedunculate Oak (Q. robur) (8%). There are also Carpinus and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), which is planted in the poorest soils. Trees are harvested on a rotation averaging 250 years.
The oaks of Tronçais, representing some 80% of production, are prized for the barrels coopered for cognac
Cognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
and the great wines of Bordeaux. They are exported to wineries of California
California wine
California wine has a long and continuing history, and in the late twentieth century became recognized as producing some of the world's finest wine. While wine is made in all fifty U.S. states, up to 90% of American wine is produced in the state...
and elsewhere in the United States, and to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Within the forest 108 Roman habitations that have been discovered, most during recent decades, show that the land was cleared and intensively cultivated under the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
; the resulting pocket of increased biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, initiated by Roman manuring and fertilizing practices, has remained self-sustaining over two millennia and can be detected today. The forest, therefore, is not a relic of the primeval forest that once covered most of France, but was organized by Colbert in 1670, with forethought for the requirements of the French navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
two hundred years hence, the present futaie Colbert, now reduced to a few hectares. Beeches and larch
Larch
Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 15 to 50m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south...
es were interplanted with the oaks to encourage them to grow with straight tall masts free of knots. By the time the trees were fully mature, the navy was rapidly switching from sail to steam. The forest was diminished by the creation in 1788 of iron forges fed by charcoal from the forest, and by urgent cutting during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
and the Napoleonic period. The forest regenerated during the 19th century.