Saint-Romain-le-Puy
Encyclopedia
Saint-Romain-le-Puy or Le Puy is a commune
in the Loire
department in central France
.
The town is located 8 km (5 mi) from Montbrison
along the D8. It was originally built on the volcanic peak (le puy), but has since migrated to the plain.
Local industries include Mineral Waters (François Parot, a public works entrepreneur sunk a well in 1858) and Glassmaking (Saint-Gobain-Emballage factory founded in 1893). Agriculture includes beef rearing, dairying and wine-growing.
Its inhabitants are known as Saint-Romanais.
The commune is twinned with Monte San Biagio
(Italy
).
(Lugdunum
) to Bordeaux
(Burdigala), which was constructed during the reign of the emperor Augustus
, by his son-in-law Agrippa. It is also on the Gallo-Roman way from Sury to Changy. These roads were later reused by pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela
.
About 500, Carétène (aunt of Saint Clotilde the wife of Clovis
) replaced a temple of Venus (famous for a bath of youth utilising the areas' mineral springs) by a Christian church dedicated to Saint Michael.
Guy II de Forez, the feudal lord of Saint-Romain-le-Puy, was the vassal of Louis VII
. In 1173, the fief of Saint-Romain was transferred from Ainay Abbey to the County of Lyon.
In 1218, Count Guy IV de Forez, gave the priory (founded in 1007) into the care of the religious of Saint-Thomas-les-Nonnains.
There was longstanding conflict between the chateau and the priory.
In 1431, the town was pillaged by routiers
under Rodrigo de Villandrando
on orders from the Crown as part of the quashing of a jacquerie
.
In 1531, Forez passed from the control of the Dukes of Bourbon to the Crown of France.
In 1633, the surrounding town wall was destroyed by order of Richelieu.
During World War I
, the town lost 102 soldiers.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
department in central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The town is located 8 km (5 mi) from Montbrison
Montbrison
Montbrison is the name of several communes of France:* Montbrison, in the Loire département* Montbrison-sur-Lez, in the Drôme département...
along the D8. It was originally built on the volcanic peak (le puy), but has since migrated to the plain.
Local industries include Mineral Waters (François Parot, a public works entrepreneur sunk a well in 1858) and Glassmaking (Saint-Gobain-Emballage factory founded in 1893). Agriculture includes beef rearing, dairying and wine-growing.
Its inhabitants are known as Saint-Romanais.
The commune is twinned with Monte San Biagio
Monte San Biagio
Monte San Biagio is a town and comune in the province of Latina, in southern Lazio . It is located on the slope of a hill part of the Monti Ausoni.-History and main sights:...
(Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
).
Geography
Le Puy itself is of volcanic origin and the surrounding plain of Forez has basaltic conglomerates. Wells have been sunk to exploit the naturally sparkling mineral waters.History
Le Puy is located on the Roman road, the Bolène Way, linking LyonLyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
(Lugdunum
Lugdunum
Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta Lugdunum was an important Roman city in Gaul. The city was founded in 43 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus. It served as the capital of the Roman province Gallia Lugdunensis. To 300 years after its foundation Lugdunum was the most important city to the west part of Roman...
) to Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
(Burdigala), which was constructed during the reign of the emperor Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
, by his son-in-law Agrippa. It is also on the Gallo-Roman way from Sury to Changy. These roads were later reused by pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
.
About 500, Carétène (aunt of Saint Clotilde the wife of Clovis
Clovis I
Clovis Leuthwig was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Frankish tribes under one ruler, changing the leadership from a group of royal chieftains, to rule by kings, ensuring that the kingship was held by his heirs. He was also the first Catholic King to rule over Gaul . He was the son...
) replaced a temple of Venus (famous for a bath of youth utilising the areas' mineral springs) by a Christian church dedicated to Saint Michael.
Guy II de Forez, the feudal lord of Saint-Romain-le-Puy, was the vassal of Louis VII
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
. In 1173, the fief of Saint-Romain was transferred from Ainay Abbey to the County of Lyon.
In 1218, Count Guy IV de Forez, gave the priory (founded in 1007) into the care of the religious of Saint-Thomas-les-Nonnains.
There was longstanding conflict between the chateau and the priory.
In 1431, the town was pillaged by routiers
Routiers
The routiers were mercenaries associated with free companies who terrorized the French countryside during the Hundred Years War. The word routier is French for "road-man", referring to their travelling nature. -Background:Routiers were a product of their time...
under Rodrigo de Villandrando
Rodrigo de Villandrando
Rodrigo de Villandrando was a Spanish routier from Castile and mercenary military leader in Gascony during the final phase of the Hundred Years' War...
on orders from the Crown as part of the quashing of a jacquerie
Jacquerie
The Jacquerie was a popular revolt in late medieval Europe by peasants that took place in northern France in the summer of 1358, during the Hundred Years' War. The revolt, which was violently suppressed after a few weeks of violence, centered in the Oise valley north of Paris...
.
In 1531, Forez passed from the control of the Dukes of Bourbon to the Crown of France.
In 1633, the surrounding town wall was destroyed by order of Richelieu.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the town lost 102 soldiers.
Demography
| 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,334 | 2,459 | 2,475 | 2,423 | 2,616 | 2,803 |
| Census Enumeration : Population without double-counting | |||||
Places and monuments
- Gallo-Roman villa at the nearby Chézieux;
- Priory of Saint-Romain-le-Puy 10th century to 14th century. Fortified priory on a hill, founded by Ainay Abbey. Historic Monument;
- Château de La Bruyère and its outbuildings are late 18th century - early 19th century. The current castle was started in 1792 by Damian Battant de Pomerol, a lawyer in Montbrison, and was completed about 1803. Quid mentions that a castle in the town was referred to in the 12th century. Historic Monument - protected elements include the pigeon loft, roofing, salon and interior décor. There is also a fine park. Ref: E. Salomon, Les châteaux historiques de Forez, In-4, 1926, t. I, p66-70;
- Parish church of Saint-Martin was built by Bouchetal at the very end of the reign of Conrad the Peaceful, king of Bourgogne-Provence 937 - 983 and was placed under the authority of Ainay Abbey in LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. The exterior has some Celtic symbols such as the swastika and horned feet. It is a successor to the church of Saint-Michael founded by Carétène.
External links
All sites in French, unless otherwise indicated.- Site of the Mayor's Office
- Photographs of the Priory
- History of Forez
- A visit the Parot mineral water factory
- Census data for Saint-Romain-le-Puy on the INSEE site
- Saint-Romain-le-Puy on the Institut Géographique National site
- Weather for Saint-Romain-le-Puy
- Financial Data for Saint-Romain-le-Puy from the Ministry of the Economy, Finances and Industry
- Ministry of Culture site
- Belltower of Parish Church
- Closest communes to Saint-Romain-le-Puy
- Saint-Romain-le-Puy on the Quid site (Note: requires payment for detailed information)
Map Links
- Map and list of communes of the Loire
- Map of Saint-Romain-le-Puy on Michelin (in English)
- Map of Saint-Romain-le-Puy on the Institut Géographique National site
- Map of Saint-Romain-le-Puy on Mapquest (in English)
- Saint-Romain-le-Puy on the Cassini map
- Map of Saint-Romain-le-Puy on Mappy (in English)
- Location of Saint-Romain-le-Puy on a map of France
- Calculate straight-line distance from Saint-Romain-le-Puy to other towns in the Loire