Poussay

Poussay (French pronunciation:[pusɛ]^ⓘ) is a commune in the Vosgesdepartment in Grand Est in northeastern France.

Inhabitants are called Porsuavitains (from the Latin version of Poussay, Portus Suavis).

The commune is positioned on the plain that adjoins the Vosges. The countryside is diverse, combining a large number of residual hillocks with the valley of the River Madon. The village itself is sited on a raised shelf on the left bank of the river in the Madon valley, 2 kilometres (1 mi) to the north of Mirecourt. It overlooks a meandering section of river set in a richly watered arboreal tapestry of that includes willowhedges, poplars and alder.

It was in the village, dominating from its limestone outcrop the Madon Valley, and also positioned across the old road from Nancy, that the great essayist Montaigne stayed around 1580 before he proceeded to Plombières en route for Italy.

Poussay has a rich history and each epoch has left traces, such as the ancient Roman road and the Merovingian era cemetery.

The Bishop of Toul between 996 and 1019 was a man named Berthold who founded a Benedictinemonastery here. It was the fourth such foundation in Lorraine, after similar foundations at Remiremont, Épinal et Bouxières-aux-Dames. The monastery later became the Chapiter of Poussay, a form of béguinage for unmarried pious noblewomen.

En 1598, gracias al enérgico apoyo del párroco de la cercana Mattaincourt , Peter Fourier (quien más tarde fue canonizado), y a Catalina de Fresnel y Judith de Aspremont, dos canónigas del cabildo de Poussay, el pueblo acogió su primera escuela para niñas «para niñas ricas y pobres por igual » . La beata Alix Le Clerc y sus compañeras impartieron a las jóvenes los elementos necesarios para una buena educación; esta iniciativa inspiró la creación de una red de escuelas similares en toda Lorena.

• Municipios del departamento de los Vosgos