Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat
Encyclopedia
Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat is a commune
in the Haute-Vienne
department in the Limousin
region
in west-central France
.
Perched on a hill above the river Vienne
, the town is named after Saint Leonard of Noblac, who, as legend suggests, was responsible for the liberation of many prisoners in 11th century France.
World Heritage Site
as part of the World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
.
Lajoumard
, a village that administratively depends of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, is one of the oldest villages in Limousin.
.
Another famous inhabitant is Raymond Poulidor
, the legendary bike racer considered to be the most popular one France ever had. He is in his seventies now and is known as "the eternal second". Despite beginning as a favourite in several Tours de France
, he persistently failed to win. He often lost against his biggest rival, Jacques Anquetil
, who won the Tour five times. Later on, he competed with Eddy Merckx
, who also won five times. Raymond's most famous victory was the classic Milan - Sanremo.
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 Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne is a French department named after the Vienne River. It is one of three departments that together constitute the French region of Limousin.The chief and largest city is Limoges...
department in the Limousin
Limousin (région)
Limousin is one of the 27 regions of France. It is composed of three départements: Corrèze, Creuse and the Haute-Vienne.Situated largely in the Massif Central, as of January 1st 2008, the Limousin comprised 740,743 inhabitants on nearly 17 000 km2, making it the second least populated region of...
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...
in west-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...
.
Perched on a hill above the river Vienne
Vienne River
The Vienne is one of the most important rivers in south-western France, a significant left tributary of the lower Loire. It supports numerous hydro-electric dams, and it is the main river of the Limousin region and also of the eastern part of the Poitou-Charentes region.Two French départements are...
, the town is named after Saint Leonard of Noblac, who, as legend suggests, was responsible for the liberation of many prisoners in 11th century France.
Sights
The Saint-Léonard Church of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat is listed as a UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
as part of the World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
In 1998, several sites in France were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the description: Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France....
.
Lajoumard
Lajoumard
Lajoumard is a village in Limousin, France. According to its inhabitants, it is one of the oldest villages in the area. Located between Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat and Le Châtenet-en-Dognon , it has about 20 old houses with stone walls...
, a village that administratively depends of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, is one of the oldest villages in Limousin.
Personalities
Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat is the hometown of famous chemist and physicist, Joseph Louis Gay-LussacJoseph Louis Gay-Lussac
- External links :* from the American Chemical Society* from the Encyclopædia Britannica, 10th Edition * , Paris...
.
Another famous inhabitant is Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor , is a former professional bicycle racer. He was known as the eternal second, because he finished the Tour de France in second place three times, and in third place five times, including his final Tour at the age of 40...
, the legendary bike racer considered to be the most popular one France ever had. He is in his seventies now and is known as "the eternal second". Despite beginning as a favourite in several Tours de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, he persistently failed to win. He often lost against his biggest rival, Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
, who won the Tour five times. Later on, he competed with Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
, who also won five times. Raymond's most famous victory was the classic Milan - Sanremo.