Accolay, Yonne

Accolay is a former commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged with Cravant into the new commune of Deux Rivières.[2]

Accolay
Part of Deux Rivières
Location of Accolay
Accolay Show map of France Accolay Show map of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Coordinates: 47°39′41″N 3°42′34″E
Country	France
Region	Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Department	Yonne
Arrondissement	Auxerre
Canton	Joux-la-Ville
Commune	Deux Rivières
Area 1	9.27 km2 (3.58 sq mi)
Population  (2017)[1]	446
• Density	48/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal code	89460
Elevation	110–231 m (361–758 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

View from the Cure and the Accolay Canal in Accolay

The population of Accolay was 419 inhabitants as of January 1, 2016.[3]

The commune is bordered by the Cure River and the Nivernais Canal, just beside it.[4] The canal junction was built in the 19th century to transport wood by timber rafting from the Morvan forests to Paris.[5]

Accolay is one of the most ancient locations of the Yonne department, first mentioned in a document by the Bishop of Auxerre, Saint Aunaire, in the 6th century under the name Accolacus. The name is from the Gaulish patronym Accola with the suffix acus, which was applied to settlements along Roman villaes.

saint-Nizier church in Accolay

The Saint-Nizier church has a chancel and a Romanesque apsel separated by a classic nave. The first church on its ground was built in the 11th century, and the present building is from the 18th century. The church possess three statues from 1695, classified as national monument.[5]

The village was noted as a producer of potter that became renowned between 1945 and 1983.[6]

The commune boasts, amongst others, a library, an elementary school, a children's nursery, a recreation centre, a municipal camping ground and a post office.[7]