Margut

Margut is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.

Geography

Access

Margut is a small village of 860 inhabitants located in the canton of Carignan, in the eastern part of the department of Ardennes . Administratively attached to the Champagne-Ardenne, the town is under the influence of Margut Lorraine and Gaume, in the department of Meuse as the borders of Belgium are less than five miles as the crow flies.

Hydrography

Margut lies at the confluence of the Carité, a stream that has its source in Signy-Montlibert and the Marche, a river that flows in Belgium, near Orval. The river, which hosts trout and grayling, flows into the Chiers, a tributary of the Meuse, between Margut and La Ferté-sur-Chiers.

Economy

The chief town of the district until the early nineteenth century, Margut retains a village-center role since its school system (nursery and primary) welcomes students from fifteen surrounding communities. But its influence has been diminishing in recent years. The town has been hard hit by the departure of public services, the college which opened in the mid 60s was permanently closed in June 2004, and more recently, the Post Office has seen its schedule cut by half. In economic terms, Margut was known for its rich industry during the twentieth century. But again, the town saw its factories close. Lactalis corporation (formerly Besnier) has been employing up to a hundred people but was closed in 2002. In 2009, the agricultural credit was removed, despite a mobilization of local elected officials and the public. Today, there are only two factories operating; Tagar, specializing in metallurgy and Nouyrigat, a sawmill.