Францияның Ассиер коммунасы: Географиялық сипаттама

Assier (asje; ) is a commune in the Lot department in the Occitanie region of south western France.

Assier is located some 12 km north west of Figeac and some 18 km south east of Gramat. The village is in the centre of the commune at the intersection of two highways: the D11 from Saint Simon in the north west which continues to Reyrevignes in the south east and the D653 from Livernon in the south west which continues to join the D840 north east of the commune. The Brive la Gaillarde to Rodez railway passes through the commune from north west to south east with Assier station just west of the village.

The highest parts of the commune are to the north east (about 400 metres above sea level). The Limargue landscape provides grazing for cattle. A small stream flows with a slight slope parallel to the D653 in a wide valley flooded during heavy rain. After two ponds and an old mill, its water is lost near the centre of the village (altitude 350 metres). In the south the rocky terrain forms a slightly undulating limestone plateau (320–330 metres above sea level) pierced by a few sinkholes around ten metres deep. This plateau is covered with short grass (dry grasslands) which supports flocks of sheep. There are also forests of contorted downy oaks that are used for firewood.

Assier is on the edge of the Causse de Gramat. The waters from the Limargue to the north east come across impermeable marl from the Early Jurassic the descend below the permeable limestone from the Middle and Late Jurassic. The limit of the Drainage basin is located to the north of Assier, water flows towards the south towards the Célé:

To the north west, north of Vialans, there are the emergences of Routabous and Tour de Maroc of calcareous sandstone from the Pliensbachian period. The small streams or Biales sink into the limestone through karstic openings. From north west to south east, these are:. The Ruisseau de l'Homme has its source near the Chapel of Saint Médard (in the Issepts commune). It flows towards the two Pertes d'Assier sinkholes: the first is at the foot of the east wall of the chateau in the ruins of an old mill that was still functioning at the beginning of the 20th century, 75 metres south of the pond formed by the Ruisseau d'Assier at the entry to the town. The second sinkhole is 20 metres east of the pond. These waters flow in the stream that passes near the ponds along the D653 road towards Lacapelle Marival. The re emergences are at Saint Sulpice in the Célé valley 13.5 km away. The time of passage of the water is 12 days. The Perte de l'Abois: a temporary sinkhole consisting of an entrance three metres high located in a small valley that crosses the D11 between Assier and Reyrevignes. The Perte du Cayre and the Grotte du Pech d'Amont: these cavities are the head of the hydro geological system that drains water toward the re emergence of the Diège at Espagnac Sainte Eulalie, nine kilometres away. The transit time for the water is 40 hours. Previously, other cavities at a higher altitude would have been of old sinkholes or were connected to the existing water systems: the Grotte du Cirque and the Grotte du Fennet.

In addition to the sinkholes in the Limargue Causse contact zone, many caves and Pit caves open up on limestone terrain. The best known are:
The Grotte du Fennet. This hole was mentioned in 1894 by Édouard Alfred Martel. It opens on the side of a sinkhole through a low passage and a corridor 60 metres long leading to a shaft 15 metres deep then a large gallery 45 metres long, 20 m wide and 30 m high. A narrow passage and a shaft lead to a low point of about 45 metres underground.

Assier is a rural community which had a dozen farms at the end of the 20th century. Operators abandoned polyculture (cereals and fruit trees) to turn to the production of meat and milk. 95% of the Limargue land is exploited, 20% of the land on the plateau is for sheep while the remaining 80% is left fallow. Fairs were very important up to the 19th century and equalled those of Figeac and Gramat. A market hall was built in 1884 for the sale of cereals, chestnuts, apples and nuts. These products declined in the 20th century as a result of evolution in transport, the mechanisation of farms, and trading by the farmer. Since 1968 the council has taken steps to revive the market for sheep. In 1980 studies were carried out for the implementation of a covered sheep market which was inaugurated in July 1997 in the industrial zone. It trades between 1,500 and 2,000 animals every Monday. and an agricultural cooperative.

Many shops and services are available on the town: butchers, bakers, a Pâtisserie, a bar, hairdressers, restaurants, a florist, and a grocery store; as well as tradesmen: roofers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, heating, and a taxi. A pharmacy is located in the town centre.

A company making high quality walnut veneers is established in the industrial zone. The cooperative society Scop O'Chêne was established at Assier as part of its expansion. It manufactures building frames: structures used as assembly modules, and wood furnishings. It had 7 employees in 2009.

The Assier school enrols children from eleven neighbouring communes. In September 2009, the nursery school had two classes and the primary school three. The staff consists of seven teachers and two assistants.

A festival of jazz, improvisation, and theatre has taken place every year since 1986 in the chateau, the church, the gardens, and in the squares. The REISSA Association (Meetings, Events, Initiatives, Support, Social Activities) manages the events in the village and the ALSH (Home Leisure Without Accommodation) for children. The Cyber base located in the House of services provides access to the Internet for all.

Assier has a post office, a railway station, and a public weighbridge near the fairgrounds in the direction of Livernon.

In 2009 Assier inaugurated the Causse Medical Centre. The town also has a pharmacy and a nursing centre in the village centre. A nursing home for the elderly is located at Les Pradels. The nearest hospitals are located at Figeac (21 km, 20 minutes by the D653 and D840) and at Cahors (57 km, 52 minutes by the D653).