Saint-Amand-Montrond
Encyclopedia
Saint-Amand-Montrond is a commune
in the Cher department in the Centre region
of France
.
situated some 26 miles (41.8 km) southeast of Bourges
, at the junction of the D951 with the D300 and D2144 roads.
The town was built in the basin of the eastern banks of the Cher River
which separates it from the commune of Orval
, to which it is connected by two bridges.
A small river, the Marmande, joins the Cher here, and the canal de Berry
crosses the commune from southeast to southwest. Some flooding is common because of the nearby marshes. The town is the capital of the small region of Boischaut, known for its woodland and cattle pastures.
by the amalgamation of three separate small towns that had grown up during the Middle Ages
: Saint Amand le Chastel, Montrond and Saint Amand sous Montrond.
s and jewellers. Two large printing companies, Bussiere and Clerc, produce large volumes of books and magazines.
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 Cher department in the Centre region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of 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...
.
Geography
A small town of farming and a little light industryLight industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
situated some 26 miles (41.8 km) southeast of Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
, at the junction of the D951 with the D300 and D2144 roads.
The town was built in the basin of the eastern banks of the Cher River
Cher River
The Cher is a river in central France, left tributary to the river Loire. Its source is in the Creuse département, north-east of Crocq. It joins the river Loire in Villandry, west of Tours....
which separates it from the commune of Orval
Orval, Cher
Orval is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:An area of lakes and streams, forestry, farming and some light industry comprising a village and a small hamlet situated some south of Bourges, at the junction of the D925 with the D921 and D300 roads. The river...
, to which it is connected by two bridges.
A small river, the Marmande, joins the Cher here, and the canal de Berry
Canal de Berry
The Canal de Berry is a disused canal in France which links the Canal latéral à la Loire at Marseilles-lès-Aubigny with the Cher at Noyers rejoining the Loire near Tours. With a branch from Montluçon it provided of canal with locks wide from 1840 until its closure in 1955...
crosses the commune from southeast to southwest. Some flooding is common because of the nearby marshes. The town is the capital of the small region of Boischaut, known for its woodland and cattle pastures.
Population
History
The settlement of Saint-Amand goes back to prehistoric times. Evidence of Roman occupation has also been discovered here. An abbey was founded here around the year 620 by a monk called Theodulph. The commune was created after the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
by the amalgamation of three separate small towns that had grown up during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
: Saint Amand le Chastel, Montrond and Saint Amand sous Montrond.
Places of interest
- The church of Saint AmandSaint AmandSaint Amand or Amandus was a French Christian saint, one of the great Christian Saints of Flanders.-Biography:...
, dating from the eleventh century. - Several houses dating from the fifteenth century.
- The church of a Carmelite conventConventA convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
dating from the fifteenth century. - A chapel from the convent, nowadays the town hall (hôtel de ville).
- The thirteenth century castle, a historic monument.
- The château de La Férolle.
- Vestiges of the twelfth century castle of Saint-Amand-le-Chatel.
- The museumMuseumA museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
of Saint-Vic.
Personalities
- Jean-Baptiste LemireJean-Baptiste LemireJean-Baptiste Lemire was a French composer.- Biography :Jean-Baptiste Lemire was born in Colmar, Haut-Rhin. He was the son of Jean-Baptiste , a mason, and Anne-Marie Sarter , a dressmaker...
(1867–1945), composer. - Louis LecoinLouis LecoinLouis Lecoin, Louis Lecoin, Louis Lecoin, (b. 30 September 1888, Saint-Amand-Montrond in the Cher département, d. 1971, was a militant anarcho-pacifist. He was at the center of the foundation of the Union pacifiste de France.- Biography :...
(1888–1971), pacifist and libertarian, was born in Saint-Amand-Montrond. - Maurice PaponMaurice PaponMaurice Papon was a French civil servant, industrial leader and Gaullist politician, who was convicted for crimes against humanity for his participation in the deportation of over 1600 Jews during World War II when he was secretary general for police of the Prefecture of Bordeaux.Papon also...
(1910–2007), mayor of Saint-Amand-Montrond (1971–1983) and collaborator during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. - Serge VinçonSerge VinçonSerge Vinçon , was a French politician of the UMP party.Born in Bourges, Cher, he was a college professor before a politician. He was elected senator of Cher on 24 September 1989 and re-elected on 27 September 1998...
(1949–2007), college professor and politician was born here. - Jean Godin des Odonais, cartographer and explorer, lived here.
Economy
The town is noted for its goldsmithGoldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
s and jewellers. Two large printing companies, Bussiere and Clerc, produce large volumes of books and magazines.
See also
- Communes of the Cher department
- Prix Alain-FournierPrix Alain-FournierThe Prix Alain-Fournier is a French literary prize, awarded by the town of Saint-Amand-Montrond in honour of Alain-Fournier, author of Le Grand Meaulnes...
- literary prize awarded at the town's annual book fair