Paray-le-Monial
|
Paray-le-Monial |
|
 |
|
| Apse of the basilica of Paray-le-Monial. | |
.svg) |
|
 Paray-le-Monial
|
|
|
Location within Burgundy region
Paray-le-Monial
|
|
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Burgundy |
| Department | Saône-et-Loire |
| Arrondissement | Charolles |
| Canton | Paray-le-Monial |
| Intercommunality | Paray-le-Monial |
| Mayor | Jean-Marc Nesme (2001–2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 234–304 m (768–997 ft) (avg. 245 m or 804 ft) |
| Land area1 | 25.20 km2 (9.73 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 9,502 (2006) |
| - Density | 377 /km2 (980 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 71342/ 71600 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Coordinates: 46°27′07″N 4°07′13″E / 46.4519°N 04.1203°E
Paray-le-Monial is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Burgundy in eastern France.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
The river Bourbince flows northwestward through the commune and crosses the town.
[edit] History
Paray (Paredum; Parodium) existed before the monks who gave it its surname of Le Monial, for when Count Lambert of Chalon, together with his wife Adelaide and his friend Mayeul de Cluny, founded there in 973 the celebrated Benedictine priory, the borough had already been constituted, with its ædiles and communal privileges. At that time an ancient temple was dedicated to the Mother of God (Charter of Paray). The Cluny monks were, 999-1789, lords of the town.
[edit] Main sights
The town is mainly known for its Romanesque church of the Sacré-Coeur ("Sacred Heart") and as a place of pilgrimage. It was built from the 12th century as a small-scale version of the Abbey of Cluny. It was finished in the 14th century, while the cloister date to the 18th century.
The Hôtel de Ville, in Renaissance style, the façade of which is adorned with a large statue of the Blessed Virgin, is also one of the historical monuments.
An other major building in Paray le monial, is Saint Nicolas' tower, built during the 16th century, which hosts different exhibitions but mainly mosaic exhibitions. 
[edit] Economy
The area's primary industry is agriculture in particular dairy farming.
[edit] Notable people
Paray-le-Monial was the birthplace of:
- Alexandre Lapandry (born 1989), rugby union player
- Jacqueline Maillan (1923–1992), actress
[edit] Twin towns - Sister cities
Paray-le-Monial is twinned with:
Bethlehem, Palestinian Authority [1]
Bad Dürkheim, Germany
Payerne, Switzerland
Wells, United Kingdom
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "::Bethlehem Municipality::". www.bethlehem-city.org. http://www.bethlehem-city.org/Twining.php. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
[edit] Sources
"Paray-le-Monial". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Paray-le-Monial |
