Annonay (; ) is a
commune and largest city in the north of the
Ardèche
Ardèche (; , ; ) is a Departments of France, department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Southeastern France. It is named after the river Ardèche (river), Ardèche and had a population of 328,278 as of 2019.[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (; AURA) or ; or ; . is a Regions of France, region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into e ...]
region of southeastern
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. It is the most populous commune in the Ardèche department although it is not the capital which is the smaller town of
Privas
Privas (; , also ) is a city located in France, in the department of Ardèche.
With its 8,465 inhabitants (2019), it is the least populated prefecture (capital of a department).
It was the location of the 1629 Siege of Privas. Today, Priv ...
. Other communes in the Ardèche department are
Aubenas
Aubenas (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the southern part of the Ardèche Departments of France, department in Southern France. It is the seat of several government offices. The mountainous and rugged countryside is popular for vacation ...
,
Guilherand-Granges, and
Tournon-sur-Rhône
Tournon-sur-Rhône (; , before 1988: ''Tournon'') is a commune in the Ardèche department of southern France. It is one of the most populous communes in the Ardèche department, after Annonay, Aubenas, and Guilherand-Granges.
Geography
It i ...
.
Geography
The commune consists of the city of Annonay and the hamlets of Vissenty, Chatinais, and Boucieu. With residential development, these four entities have merged into one today. Further away is the hamlet of Toissieu.
Annonay was built over several small hills at the confluence of the rivers
Cance (Canse) and
Deûme (Deôme). Annonay is a crossroads of trade routes: from the Rhône Valley to the region of
Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne (; Franco-Provençal: ''Sant-Etiève''), also written St. Etienne, is a city and the prefecture of the Loire département, in eastern-central France, in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regi ...
(east-west) and from Lyon to south of the
Massif Central (north-south). It is located south of
Lyon
Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...
, south-west of
Saint-Rambert-d'Albon
Saint-Rambert-d'Albon (, literally ''Saint-Rambert of Albon, Drôme, Albon''; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Drôme Departments of France, department in southeastern France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Population
Notable re ...
, and north-west of
Saint-Vallier at the foot of the mountains of
Vivarais
Vivarais (; ; {{cite web , url=http://www.columbia.edu/acis/ets/Graesse/orblatv.html , title = ORBIS LATINUS - Letter V) is a traditional region in the south-east of France, covering the ''département'' of Ardèche, named after its capital Vivier ...
just west of the river
Rhône
The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...
. Access to the commune is by the D121 from
Davezieux in the north-east passing through the commune and the city and continuing to
Villevocance in the south-west. There is also the D578 from the city to
Quintenas in the south and the D206 to
Saint-Marcel-les-Annonay in the north. There are also the D371 and the D370 in the east of the commune.
[Google Maps]
/ref>
The geology consists mainly of grey or light orange leucogranite
Leucogranite is a light-colored, granitic, igneous rock containing almost no dark minerals.
Leucogranites have been reported from a variety of orogenies involving continental collisions. Examples include the Black Hills (Trans-Hudson orogeny ...
and orthogneiss rich in biotite
Biotite is a common group of phyllosilicate minerals within the mica group, with the approximate chemical formula . It is primarily a solid-solution series between the iron- endmember annite, and the magnesium-endmember phlogopite; more al ...
, sillimanite
Sillimanite or fibrolite is an aluminosilicate mineral with the chemical formula Al2SiO5. Sillimanite is named after the American chemist Benjamin Silliman (1779–1864). It was first described in 1824 for an occurrence in Chester, Connecticut ...
, and cordierite
Cordierite (mineralogy) or iolite (gemology) is a magnesium iron aluminium cyclosilicate. Iron is almost always present, and a solid solution exists between Mg-rich cordierite and Fe-rich sekaninaite with a series formula: to . A high-tempera ...
with alternating bands of felsic
In geology, felsic is a grammatical modifier, modifier describing igneous rocks that are relatively rich in elements that form feldspar and quartz.Marshak, Stephen, 2009, ''Essentials of Geology,'' W. W. Norton & Company, 3rd ed. It is contrasted ...
and mafic
A mafic mineral or rock is a silicate mineral or igneous rock rich in magnesium and iron. Most mafic minerals are dark in color, and common rock-forming mafic minerals include olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite. Common mafic rocks include ...
material. The escarpment of Annonay is surrounded by plateaux and gentle hills used for cultivating cherries
A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus ''Prunus'', and is a fleshy drupe (stone fruit).
Commercial cherries are obtained from cultivars of several species, such as the sweet ''Prunus avium'' and the sour ''Prunus cerasus''. The name ...
, apricot
An apricot (, ) is a fruit, or the tree that bears the fruit, of several species in the genus ''Prunus''.
Usually an apricot is from the species '' P. armeniaca'', but the fruits of the other species in ''Prunus'' sect. ''Armeniaca'' are also ...
s, apple
An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...
s, pear
Pears are fruits produced and consumed around the world, growing on a tree and harvested in late summer into mid-autumn. The pear tree and shrub are a species of genus ''Pyrus'' , in the Family (biology), family Rosaceae, bearing the Pome, po ...
s, and other crops. A reservoir created by damming the Ternay River north-west of the town provides water for industrial and domestic use. The highest point of the town at is located near a place called "Sagne Ronde"; the lowest point at is the bed of the Cance near the ruins of the "Mill Baru". The Montmiandon overlooking the city, rises to above sea level.
Name
The origin of the name of the town has numerous hypotheses. One of these suggests that ''Annonay'' comes from ' meaning the domain of an "Annonius", a rich Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of Roman civilization
*Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
who lived there.[Municipal Bulletin municipal of the city of Annonay: a little history. 1982 ] Another explanation is that ''Annonay'' came from the presence of a food store of the '. In any case, the site of the city has been occupied since antiquity. Roman coins
Roman currency for most of Roman history consisted of gold, silver, bronze, orichalcum#Numismatics, orichalcum and copper coinage. From its introduction during the Roman Republic, Republic, in the third century BC, through Roman Empire, Imperial ...
and medals were found during the digging of the Rue Malleval in 1851.
History
Middle Ages
The first written mention of Annonay dates from 403. A chronicle of archives in Vienne characterized the city as a small town "built by poor unclothed workers lost in the mountains of Haut-Vivarais".
A manuscript which has now disappeared, ''History of Annonay'' by P. Bartholomew Popon stated that Evance, Bishop of Vienne, had built on the site of Liberty Square a church dedicated to Saint-Mary or Our Lady in 584.
A charter of 790 ("The statutes of the Church of Vienne"), confirmed in 805, extracted from the cartulary
A cartulary or chartulary (; Latin: ''cartularium'' or ''chartularium''), also called ''pancarta'' or ''codex diplomaticus'', is a medieval manuscript volume or roll ('' rotulus'') containing transcriptions of original documents relating to the fo ...
of the Church of Vienne and quoted Annonay as the seat of a rural archpriest
The ecclesiastical title of archpriest or archpresbyter belongs to certain priests with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and the Eastern Catholic Churches and may be somewhat analogo ...
.
In the 13th and early 14th centuries, the small town of Annonay was an important step on the road of pilgrimage to the Virgin of Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, ; , before 1988: ''Le Puy'') is the prefecture of the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France.
Located near the river Loire, the city is famous for its cathedral, for a kind of le ...
. In witness to this hostelries for pilgrims, five monasteries
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which m ...
including the Saint-Clair Convent, one Cordelier, and two priories one of which was the Chapel of Trachin.
The family ''de Roussillon'' dominated the region. One of its members, Guillaume de Roussillon, participated in the Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and at times directed by the Papacy during the Middle Ages. The most prominent of these were the campaigns to the Holy Land aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and its surrounding t ...
. From 1288 a charter was signed between the city and the Lord of Annonay. This granted some autonomy to the city: in particular the right to levy taxes.
In 1342 or 1347, Annonay suffered the Black Death
The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic that occurred in Europe from 1346 to 1353. It was one of the list of epidemics, most fatal pandemics in human history; as many as people perished, perhaps 50% of Europe's 14th century population. ...
which raged in Europe. A large part of the population was decimated. From 1365 two consuls were responsible for the city.
During the 15th century, Annonay affirmed itself as a commercial crossroads: exporting its wine, trading between the valley of the Rhône
The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...
, the Dauphiné
The Dauphiné ( , , ; or ; or ), formerly known in English as Dauphiny, is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of Isère, Drôme and Hautes-Alpes. The Dauphiné was ...
and the mountain by mule, the tannery developed using the waters of the Deume. The city, built on a rocky outcrop located between two rivers, was defended by the castle of Roussillon in the south and two fortified houses
A fortified house or fortified mansion is a type of building which developed in Europe during the Middle Ages, generally with significant fortifications added. During the earlier Roman Empire, Roman period it was common for wealthy landowner ...
: in the north Maleton and in the west Du Peloux. A line of ramparts ringed all. The suburbs grew towards the Champ de Mars along the banks of the Cance and Deume. The relative prosperity however attracted thieves
Theft (, cognate to ) is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal short ...
, highwaymen
A highwayman was a robber who stole from travellers. This type of thief usually travelled and robbed by horse as compared to a footpad who travelled and robbed on foot; mounted highwaymen were widely considered to be socially superior to foo ...
, and mercenaries
A mercenary is a private individual who joins an War, armed conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any other official military. Mercenaries fight for money or other forms of payment rath ...
. During the Hundred Years War
The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a conflict between the kingdoms of England and France and a civil war in France during the Late Middle Ages. It emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy of Aquitaine and was triggered by a c ...
the city strengthened its fortifications with watchtowers, such as the so-called Martyrs Tower. The walls were pierced by gates to control the entrance and exit to the city. There are written references to the Deume, Cance, and Champ entrances, to mention only the most important.
In 1487 the city had fourteen churches or chapels for about two thousand inhabitants. At the center of town was the parish Church of Notre Dame to which was attached a college of canons of the order of Saint-Ruf. Until the Wars of Religion clerics represented up to half of the population.
Modern times (16th and 17th centuries)
In 1524 Annonay was attached to the domain of the King of France in the wake of the revolt by the Constable of Bourbon: his property, which included Annonay, was confiscated. The country was then dominated by the ''Lévis-Ventadour'', the ''Rohan-Soubises'' etc.
Wars of Religion
During this period Annonay had 3,500 inhabitants. The districts of Cance and Deume were neglected by the wealthy in favor of the Place Vielle (Old Square – now the Place de la Liberté or Liberty Square), Place Grenette, Rue des Forges (formerly Main Street and today Rue Franki Kramer).
Annonay adopted Protestantism
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
before Geneva
Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
. From 1528 a Franciscan
The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...
friar, ''Etienne Machopolis'' – who had heard Martin Luther
Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...
preach in Saxony
Saxony, officially the Free State of Saxony, is a landlocked state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Bavaria, as well as the countries of Poland and the Czech Republic. Its capital is Dresden, and ...
, spread the new ideas. In 1539 two merchants from Annonay were burned alive for spreading the ideas of Luther. It was the excesses of the clergy that pushed people into the arms of the Reformation
The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major Theology, theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the p ...
. Moreover, in the region Protestants such as the Benay family had developed the culture of silkworms and protected the Italian artisans who came to develop the silk mills.
Annonay, when in the hands of Protestants, was taken for the first time in 1562 by the Catholic troops of Christophe of Saint-Chamond St Chamond may refer to:
* Saint Chamond otherwise Annemund, bishop of Lyon
* Saint-Chamond, Loire, a French town named after him
* Saint-Chamond (manufacturer), informal name for the ''Compagnie des forges et aciéries de la marine et d'Homéco ...
, Lord of Thorrenc and Andance. The city was retaken at the end of 1562 by the Protestants led by Jean de Saint-Romain, his own brother. Saint-Romain and his troops destroyed the Catholic places of worship in Annonay except for the Trachin Chapel which became a Protestant temple. On 10 January 1563 three thousand Catholics commanded by Saint-Chamond dislodged them from Annonay. The city was sacked in five days. The Edict of Amboise (March 1563) restored peace by giving Protestants freedom of worship in bailiwick
A bailiwick () is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and once also applied to territories in which a privately appointed bailiff exercised the sheriff's functions under a royal or imperial writ.
In English, the original French combi ...
s such as Annonay. To this misfortune was added another: plague broke out in 1564.
In 1568 the Protestants of Saint-Romain seized Annonay and slaughtered the college of Notre Dame. A few months later, in September, Catholics, under the command of Saint-Chamond, retook the city again. The troops of Saint-Romain reverted to the masters of Annonay on 17 July 1574. The houses of Cance and Bourgville districts were razed and the ramparts ruined, college and various Annonay chapels were completely destroyed except the Trachin Chapel. From 1574 the Protestant Lord Jean de Fay of Virieu was sent by Henry III to negotiate peace between Catholics and Protestants. A compromise was found in the castle of La Condamine: the Protestant lord was responsible for controlling the locations in the region which were disarmed. An edict of pacification was granted in 1577. The city then had a long period of peace but in the short term trade and industry were destroyed. The city, in ruins, had only 300 fires
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a fuel in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products.
Flames, the most visible portion of the fire, are produced in the combustion reaction when the fuel ...
or about 1500 inhabitants. Religious orders were expelled. In 1583, 1584, and 1585, poor harvests caused inflation, food shortages, and famine. Plague wreaked havoc in Upper Vivarais.
With the signing of the Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes () was an edict signed in April 1598 by Henry IV of France, King Henry IV and granted the minority Calvinism, Calvinist Protestants of France, also known as Huguenots, substantial rights in the nation, which was predominantl ...
the city regained prosperity. At the end of the 16th century thirty tanneries were located on the banks of the Deume and Cance, attracted by the quality of their waters and the prosperous farms nearby. The tanneries grew. There were 11 Tanners and 4 Dressers in 1590; there were 20 and 37 respectively in 1704.
17th–18th centuries
Catholicism became the new majority in the capital of Upper Vivarais due to the massive influx of foreign population. Reconstruction of the Church of Notre Dame was undertaken with a constrained budget. Meanwhile, the Trachin Chapel, the only intact religious building, became the parish church. A Protestant church was built in the district of the Place Saint-Ursula. In September 1601 Annonay received a visit by the future Saint Francis de Sales
Francis de Sales, Congregation of the Oratory, C.O., Order of Minims, O.M. (; ; 21 August 156728 December 1622) was a Savoyard state, Savoyard Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Geneva and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He became n ...
and a little later from the future Saint John Francis Regis
Jean-François Régis, SJ, commonly known as Saint John Francis Regis and Saint Regis (31 January 1597 – 31 December 1640), was a French priest of the Society of Jesus, recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1737. A tireless prea ...
. The reconstruction of the city was characterized by the arrival of new religious communities and the creation of educational institutions such as the Convent of Santa Maria. A new hospital, joining the medieval structures of Notre-Dame La Belle and Notre-Dame de l'Aumône was created on 16 March 1686 at the Champ-de-Mars.
In 1685 the revocation of the Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Fontainebleau (18 October 1685, published 22 October 1685) was an edict issued by French King Louis XIV and is also known as the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The Edict of Nantes (1598) had granted Huguenots the right to pra ...
affected Annonay. Protestants who were at that time 50% of the population had to choose between exile, abjuration, or to continue practicing their religion in secret. The Protestants were mostly artisans, manufacturers, wine-growers, and traders. A century later a census showed that there were only 7% Protestants mostly from the upper classes.
The paper industry was started in Annonay in the 17th century with the Montgolfier
The Montgolfier brothers – Joseph-Michel Montgolfier (; 26 August 1740 – 26 June 1810) and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier (; 6 January 1745 – 2 August 1799) – were aviation pioneers, balloonists and paper manufacturers from the Communes o ...
brothers, papermakers
Papermaking is the manufacture of paper and cardboard, which are used widely for printing, writing, and packaging, among many other purposes. Today almost all paper is made using industrial machinery, while handmade paper survives as a special ...
originating from Auvergne
Auvergne (; ; or ) is a cultural region in central France.
As of 2016 Auvergne is no longer an administrative division of France. It is generally regarded as conterminous with the land area of the historical Province of Auvergne, which was dis ...
, installed at Vidalon-lès-Annonay (today a hamlet in the commune of Davézieux
Davézieux (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Ardèche Departments of France, department in southern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Ardèche department
References
Communes of Ardèche
Ardèche communes ar ...
). The Johannots, another Auvergne family, had been settled in Faya since 1634. Attracted to the water quality, the driving force of the rivers, and the abundance of raw materials (rags), they imported technological innovations from Holland
Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...
: e.g. the Dutch pile.
In the maze of streets and small squares of Annonay, there was progress with the commissioning in 1726 of four public fountains fed by captive water sources.
In 1780 industrial production was booming: 25,000 cow hides and 500,000 sheep skins were processed by the tanneries. Paper mills produced 300 tons of paper. This success did not go smoothly: the employment in great numbers of the best workers by Montgolfier caused a scarcity of labor and demands for wage increases. There was a strike for two months in the Vidalon Workshop in late 1781 after a long period of tension between the employer and his employees, the first lost the best of his workforce through his intransigent attitude at a time when fights between ''gavots'' and journeymen were common.
In 1781, the term Bailiage was changed to ''Sénéchaussée''.
On 14 December 1782, thanks to Etienne and Joseph Montgolfier, the first balloon rose above Vidalon-lès-Annonay. It consisted of a large paper bag
A paper bag is a bag made of paper, usually kraft paper. Paper bags can be made either with virgin or recycled fibres to meet customers' demands. Paper bags are commonly used as shopping bag, shopping carrier bags and for packaging of some co ...
lined with cloth placed over a fire of wet straw and wool. It remained however a private experience: the first public official flight in a hot air balloon took place on 4 June 1783 at Annonay, or precisely from the Place des Cordeliers – in front of a chosen public: the Members of State particularly of Vivarais. Several other inventions are credited to Joseph Montgolfier: the hydraulic ram
A hydraulic ram pump, ram pump, or hydram is a cyclic pump, cyclic water pump powered by hydropower. It takes in water at one "hydraulic head" (pressure) and flow rate, and outputs water at a higher hydraulic head and lower flow rate. The device ...
, the method of manufacture of Wove paper and filter paper, called joseph paper.
Annonay developed through trade. It benefited from an improved road network (even if it was as a result of the revolt of camisards
Camisards were Huguenots (French Protestants) of the rugged and isolated Cévennes region and the neighbouring Vaunage in southern France. In the early 1700s, they raised a resistance against the persecutions which followed Louis XIV's Revocatio ...
).[Municipal Archives of Annonay] In 1787 Annonay had 130 merchants for about 7,000 inhabitants. Among them: 11 drapers, 11 clothiers, 26 grocers, 3 goldsmiths, 26 shoe merchants, and 28 tailors. At the same time, the Catholic parish of the city was headed by a priest-archpriest, and vicars. The college of canons was composed of the prior and twelve canons. The monastery of the Poor Clares
The Poor Clares, officially the Order of Saint Clare (Latin language, Latin: ''Ordo Sanctae Clarae''), originally referred to as the Order of Poor Ladies, and also known as the Clarisses or Clarissines, the Minoresses, the Franciscan Clarist Or ...
had twelve nuns and two lay sisters, the Convent of Santa Maria had thirty nuns and four lay sisters. Adding to this religious presence was the pastor of the Protestant community.
French Revolution
The French Revolution started down this organization. The region was characterized by a wave of dechristianization which caused a certain spirit of resistance among the Catholic and Protestant populations. The Terror
The Reign of Terror (French: ''La Terreur'', literally "The Terror") was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the First Republic, a series of massacres and numerous public executions took place in response to ...
made victims such as Pierre-François Dulau-Dallemand, the pastor of Saint-Julien-Vocance; Bartholomew Montblanc, Vicar at Givors
Givors (; ) is a commune in the Metropolis of Lyon in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France.
Location
It lies at the confluence of the Rhone and the Gier about south of Lyon and on the main road between that city and Saint-Étienne. ...
hidden around Annonay, and the priests of Rouville, Bac-et-Guards, and former Jesuits. To them must be added the three Sisters of Saint-Joseph from the community of Vernosc-lès-Annonay
Vernosc-lès-Annonay (, literally ''Vernosc near Annonay''; ) is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its ov ...
.
The representatives of Annonay, while being very favorable to the new order, adopted a moderate attitude. This moderation was well illustrated by the personality of the lawyer Boissy d'Anglas, closely linked to the Girondins
The Girondins (, ), also called Girondists, were a political group during the French Revolution. From 1791 to 1793, the Girondins were active in the Legislative Assembly and the National Convention. Together with the Montagnards, they initiall ...
. André Joseph Abrial, a native of Annonay, became Minister of Justice and was an author of the Civil Code
A civil code is a codification of private law relating to property law, property, family law, family, and law of obligations, obligations.
A jurisdiction that has a civil code generally also has a code of civil procedure. In some jurisdiction ...
(''Code Napoleon'').
19th century
During the first half of the 19th century, the need for an industrial workforce for paper-making and leather at Annonay attracted population from the surrounding countryside. The number of inhabitants doubled from 5,550 in 1801 to 11,398 in 1846 (it would reach 18,445 inhabitants in 1866). The physiognomy of the city changed with the rapid development or opening of new shopping streets (Rues Sadi Carnot, Montgolfier
The Montgolfier brothers – Joseph-Michel Montgolfier (; 26 August 1740 – 26 June 1810) and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier (; 6 January 1745 – 2 August 1799) – were aviation pioneers, balloonists and paper manufacturers from the Communes o ...
, Boissy d'Anglas, Tournon, Melchior de Vogue). A new city hall was built in a developing area.
In 1822, the Congregation of St. Basil, a Catholic order of priests was founded in the town.
On 26 February 1848, the city workers violently showed their support for the revolutionary Parisians (during February 1848), including the stoning of houses belonging to notable people. The army maintained order.
With demographic pressure, the size of the existing infrastructure including the sole Catholic church did not allow proper welcoming of new residents to the faith. Two new churches were built: Saint-Francis and Saint-Joseph. Around the city, about a kilometer or two new town houses were built in the image of the ''Domain of Marc Seguin'' or Déomas Castle constituting a "sunbelt".
The tannery rode the industrial prosperity of Annonay. High-end gloves were made in Grenoble
Grenoble ( ; ; or ; or ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Isère Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region ...
but the best skins came from Annonay. In 1870 the Annonay tannery processed 8 million skins and employed 50% of the workers in the city. Three thousand of them were working at the time in this industry.
Improving the road network and creating the first lines of railway put an end to Annonay's role as a commercial center for the mountainous hinterland. The latter was now in direct contact with Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne (; Franco-Provençal: ''Sant-Etiève''), also written St. Etienne, is a city and the prefecture of the Loire département, in eastern-central France, in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regi ...
. The east-west trade that were advantageous to Annonay were replaced by north-south trade particularly following the valley of the Rhône
The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...
. From now on Annonay, although the hometown of Marc Seguin
Marc Seguin (20 April 1786 – 24 February 1875) was a French engineer, inventor of the wire-Wire rope, cable suspension bridge and the multi-tubular steam-engine firetube boiler, boiler.
Early life
Seguin was born in Annonay, Ardèche to Ma ...
, would be connected to the railway network by a branch line.
The Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the War of 1870, was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 Janua ...
of 1870 blocked exports: the stocks of the Annonay works were blocked for a time in Paris. This crisis began the decline of the tanneries in Annonay compounded by weak industrial investment. More than 2,000 employees were laid off to go and find work in other areas.
Barthélémy Baru Canson married the daughter of Étienne de Montgolfier. New processes of papermaking were established and production became specialized. The paper mill employed 1,500 people around 1875. Such activity requires a lot of water which was supplied by the Ternay reservoir from 1867. Its water was also distributed to residents through standpipes positioned in each district.
While modern community life was started with the creation of the first sports clubs such as ''Annonéenne'', a company gym which still exists; the nascent local press reported on events such as celebrations marking the centenary of the first flight of a balloon. Annonay improved its main entrance by creating a new road connecting the PLM station to the center of town: the Boulevard of the Republic (1883–1888).
The 20th century
In the early 20th century, the city still retained its appearance after the Wars of religion except for the Station district. Construction works were mainly concentrated in the industrial valleys of Cance and Deume. The historic center saw the building of Annonay's first department store "Les Galeries Modernes" (currently Public Service offices) and reconstruction on another site of the historic church of Notre-Dame. At this time the ''magic of electricity'' came (1910). The telephone was known and used. The national news with the laws on religious congregations and the separation of church and state was a passion in Annonay and in its surroundings. There were expulsions of monks and nuns with the '' Querelle des inventaires'' particularly active during violent protests motivated by the fear of a return to the excesses of 1793–1794.
The First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
with its refugees, its wounded, its mutilated, and its dead (552 from Annonay) put an end to the protests.
The period between the two wars was marked by the presidential visit of Alexandre Millerand
Alexandre Millerand (; – ) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1920 to 1924, having previously served as Prime Minister of France earlier in 1920. His participation in Waldeck-Rousseau's cabinet at the start of the ...
in 1923 on the occasion of the inauguration of the monument in honor of Marc Seguin
Marc Seguin (20 April 1786 – 24 February 1875) was a French engineer, inventor of the wire-Wire rope, cable suspension bridge and the multi-tubular steam-engine firetube boiler, boiler.
Early life
Seguin was born in Annonay, Ardèche to Ma ...
and by the 150th anniversary of the first flight of the balloon (1933). The appearance of the city remained the same: dirty, dark streets, few new buildings like the "Vanaude" house. The "sunbelt" of castles contrast with the city center of slums and polluting industries. On the economic front mechanical industries grew: machines for the tannery of the Mercier brothers and especially for the manufacturing of buses
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a motor vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van, but fewer than the average rail transport. It is most commonly used ...
. The old craft business of Jean-Joseph Besset became Renault
Renault S.A., commonly referred to as Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English), is a French Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company curr ...
then Irisbus, who manufacture its entire range of bus
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a motor vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van, but fewer than the average rail transport. It is most commonly used ...
es and coaches
Coach may refer to:
Guidance/instruction
* Coach (sport), a director of Athletes' training and activities
* Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process
** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers
Transportation
* Coac ...
for France. These entrepreneurs invented the concept of the industrial zone. The descendants of the Montgolfier brothers, B. and E. de Canson invented tracing paper
Tracing paper is paper made to have low Opacity (optics), opacity, allowing light to pass through. Its origins date back to at least the 1300s, when it was used by artists of the Italian Renaissance. In the 1880s, tracing paper was produced en ...
and photographic paper
Photographic paper is a coated paper, paper coated with a light-sensitive chemical, used for making photographic prints. When photographic paper is exposed to light, it captures a latent image that is then Photographic developer, developed to form ...
. Weaving experiencing strong growth.
During the Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
Annonay was the site of the last battles of 1940. On 6 June 1944 the local resistance of the Secret Army were the first to liberate their own city. These facts earned the city the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945
Croix (French for "cross") may refer to:
Belgium
* Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut
France
* Croix, Nord, in the Nord department
* Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort d ...
and a citation at the order of the nation.
When peace returned, industrial sectors developed in Annonay such as food processing and pharmaceutical production. Other industries declined following the marginalisation of the work of leather and textile after great social conflict. The face of the city changed. From 1949 near the Besset factory a new district was created from scratch on farmland. It contains large housing subdivisions, schools, sports facilities and shops. Catholics built their fourth church in the city. Urbanization moved towards Boulieu-lès-Annonay, Roiffieux, and especially Davézieux
Davézieux (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Ardèche Departments of France, department in southern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Ardèche department
References
Communes of Ardèche
Ardèche communes ar ...
with its industrial and commercial area. In the center, renovation of the old town, reconstruction of the banks of the Deume and the hillsides of Cance are scheduled. From a city with black façades, slums, and industrial wastelands, Annonay has become a colorful city made of new or rehabilitated buildings. The Deume has been covered for more than one kilometer and a new axis conveys traffic: the Avenue de l'Europe.
The Annonay people celebrated with great pomp the centenary of the railway line (1970), Marc Seguin
Marc Seguin (20 April 1786 – 24 February 1875) was a French engineer, inventor of the wire-Wire rope, cable suspension bridge and the multi-tubular steam-engine firetube boiler, boiler.
Early life
Seguin was born in Annonay, Ardèche to Ma ...
(1975 and 1986), and the bicentennial of the first flight of the hot air balloon
A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carri ...
(1983).
The 21st century
The city bore the brunt of deindustrialisation. Economic jewels disappeared causing job losses (industrial weaving, manufacture and paper production). At the same time new companies emerged bringing hope in the fields of food and cleaning equipment.
Although more discreet in a secular society religious life remains. The Catholic community created the parish of Sainte-Claire by merging the parishes of the city of Annonay, Roiffieux, Vocance, Villevocance, Vanosc
Vanosc (; ) is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Ardèche department
The following is a list of the 335 communes of the Ardèche department of France.
The communes cooper ...
, Saint-Julien-Vocance, Monestier, and the hamlet of Toissieu. The Protestant community is shared between the Evangelical Church and the United Protestant Church of France
The United Protestant Church of France () is the main and largest Protestant church in France, created in 2013 through the unification of the Reformed Church of France and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of France. It is active in all parts of ...
. The Muslim community built the ''House of the Orient'', a building which includes the first mosque in Annonay.
On 8 March 2001, an ETA
Eta ( ; uppercase , lowercase ; ''ē̂ta'' or ''ita'' ) is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet, representing the close front unrounded vowel, . Originally denoting the voiceless glottal fricative, , in most dialects of Ancient Greek, it ...
suspect was arrested at a local roadblock.
Associative and cultural life is rich. The people of Annonay celebrated the centennial of the opening of the new Church of Notre Dame (2012) and the establishment of the Joseph Besset factory (2013).
Heraldry
Administration
List of Successive Mayors
;Mayors from 1942
Twin towns – sister cities
Annonay is twinned with:
* Backnang
Backnang (; ) is a town in Germany in the Bundesland (Germany), Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, roughly northeast of Stuttgart. Its population has increased greatly over the past century, from 7,650 in 1900 to 37,957 in 2022.
Backnang was ce ...
, Germany (1966)
* Barge
A barge is typically a flat-bottomed boat, flat-bottomed vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. Original use was on inland waterways, while modern use is on both inland and ocean, marine water environments. The firs ...
, Italy (2001)
* Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...
, England, United Kingdom (1999)
Annonay also cooperates with Vysoké Mýto
Vysoké Mýto (; , also ''Hohenmauth'') is a town in Ústí nad Orlicí District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 13,000 inhabitants. Its town square is the largest example of its type in the country. The historic town ...
in the Czech Republic.[
]
Population
Distribution of age groups
The age distribution of the population of the town is similar to the average for the department.
Percentage distribution of age groups in Annonay and Ardèche Department in 2017
Source: INSEE[Évolution et structure de la population en 2017: Commune d'Annonay (07010)]
/ref>
Economy
Annonay has a strong industrial tradition, originally powered by the water flowing through the deep gorges around the town. In the 19th century, it was connected to the Paris-Lyon Railway and was famed for the best paper
Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, Textile, rags, poaceae, grasses, Feces#Other uses, herbivore dung, or other vegetable sources in water. Once the water is dra ...
in France. It also produced glove
A glove is a garment covering the hand, with separate sheaths or openings for each finger including the thumb. Gloves protect and comfort hands against cold or heat, damage by friction, abrasion or chemicals, and disease; or in turn to provide a ...
leather and cotton
Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...
, woolen
Woolen (American English) or woollen (Commonwealth English) is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn. Woolen yarn is in contrast t ...
, and silk goods
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtaine ...
. A modern dam was constructed across the Ternay, an affluent of the Deûme northwest of town, which expanded the power available to local factories. By the First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the leather
Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning (leather), tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffal ...
industry had become predominant, while the economy expanded to include more raw silk
Raw Silk was an American dance music, dance band which originated in New York City, New York.
History
Raw Silk first signed to West End Records, a popular Paradise Garage, garage label for which they recorded songs that became moderate hits. T ...
, flour
Flour is a powder made by Mill (grinding), grinding raw grains, List of root vegetables, roots, beans, Nut (fruit), nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredie ...
, chemical manures, glue
Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation.
The use of adhesives offers certain advantage ...
, gelatine
Gelatin or gelatine () is a translucent, colorless, flavorless food ingredient, commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. It is brittle when dry and rubbery when moist. It may also be referred to as hydrolysis, hydrolyzed col ...
, brush
A brush is a common tool with bristles, wire or other filaments. It generally consists of a handle or block to which filaments are affixed in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation, depending on the way the brush is to be gripped during u ...
es, chocolates, and candle
A candle is an ignitable candle wick, wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a Aroma compound, fragrance. A candle can also provide heat or a method of keeping time. ...
s. Although the leather industry has since declined, the ''Tannerie d'Annonay'' ("Annonay Tannery
Tanning, or hide tanning, is the process of treating skins and hides of animals to produce leather. A tannery is the place where the skins are processed.
Historically, vegetable based tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound derived fr ...
") continues the tradition under the ''Grison'' brand.
Irisbus (a Renault Vehicles Industries and Fiat Iveco joint venture
A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acce ...
) builds buses and is the largest single employer with around 2,000 staff with several associated businesses.
The multinational paper company Arjo Wiggins subsidiary ''Papeteries Canson et Montgolfier SA'', which dates back to 1557 owns three of the several paper factories in the town.
Other industries in or close to the town include plastics, textiles, and pharmaceutical companies including Ciba, Aguettant and Tetra Médical.
There are a number of vineyard
A vineyard ( , ) is a plantation of grape-bearing vines. Many vineyards exist for winemaking; others for the production of raisins, table grapes, and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is kno ...
s near the town.
The average salary in the area is 23,300 euro
The euro (currency symbol, symbol: euro sign, €; ISO 4217, currency code: EUR) is the official currency of 20 of the Member state of the European Union, member states of the European Union. This group of states is officially known as the ...
.
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage
The Montgolfier brothers
*A Statue of the brothers Joseph and Etienne de Montgolfier located in the Place de Liberation. A work by the sculptor Henri Cordier
Henri Cordier (8 August 184916 March 1925) was a French linguist, historian, ethnographer, author, editor and Orientalist. He was President of the Société de Géographie ( French, "Geographical Society") in Paris.[Marc Seguin
Marc Seguin (20 April 1786 – 24 February 1875) was a French engineer, inventor of the wire-Wire rope, cable suspension bridge and the multi-tubular steam-engine firetube boiler, boiler.
Early life
Seguin was born in Annonay, Ardèche to Ma ...]
, Place de la Liberté ( 1923 ). This bronze statue, the work of François Clémencin, was removed by the German army in 1942 then was replaced by a statue by the same sculptor which was inaugurated on 1 June 1947.[
*The Domain of Marc Seguin at Varagnes (19th century) is registered as a historical monument.
]
Boissy d'Anglas
*A Statue of François-Antoine de Boissy d'Anglas located at the Champ de Mars. The work of the sculptor Pierre Hébert, it was inaugurated on 5 October 1862. The base is decorated with a bas-relief bronze (also the work of Pierre Hébert) representing the meeting on 1 Prairial Year III of the National Convention
The National Convention () was the constituent assembly of the Kingdom of France for one day and the French First Republic for its first three years during the French Revolution, following the two-year National Constituent Assembly and the ...
.[
*A Painting: Boissy d'Anglas at the National Convention, 1 Prairial Year III, the work of Auguste Jean-Baptiste Vinchon, displayed in the wedding hall of the Town Hall.
]
Fountains
*The Jean-Baptiste Béchetoille fountain (1900). The work of the architect Millefaud.[
*The Fountain in the Place Grenette (1726).
*The Fountain in the Place de la Liberté opened in 1923.
]
Other sites of interest
*The City Hall of neoclassical inspiration (1835), rebuilt twice after fires (1870 and 1926).
*The Fortified house of Nicolas du Peloux in Rue de la Postern (Governor in 1577).
*Bourgeois mansions in Rue de Trachin from the 17th and 18th centuries.
*The Valgelas Bridge (14th century), a former city gate.[Abbot Filhol, ''Religious and Civil History of Annonay and Upper–Vivarais since the origin of the city to the present day'', Vols 1, 2, 3, and 4, Moussy ainé, 1882 ]
*The La Vanaude House at 33 Avenue Marc-Seguin (1930) is registered as an historical monument. It is the work of the architects Hugues Gosselin and Maurice Frappa.
*The César Filhol Museum in Rue Bechetoille (1700), formerly the royal bailiwick house. The museum contains two items that are registered as historical objects:
**A Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (16th century)
**A Statue: Christ (17th century) possibly by Veyrines.
*The Place Mayol (16th century) with a door of glazing beads.
*The Château of Déomas (1876) illustration of the "Sun Belt of Annonay".
*Substantial remains of the railway line between Firminy
Firminy (; ) is a commune in the Loire department in central France.
It lies on the river Ondaine, 13 km southwest of Saint-Étienne by rail.
History
The ancient name of the town was ''Firminiaco'' or ''Firminiacus'' (lit. "place of Fir ...
, Bourg-Argental
Bourg-Argental (; ; ) is a commune in the Loire department in central France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Loire department
The following is a list of the 320 communes of the Loire department of France.
The communes cooperate i ...
, and Saint-Rambert-d'Albon
Saint-Rambert-d'Albon (, literally ''Saint-Rambert of Albon, Drôme, Albon''; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Drôme Departments of France, department in southeastern France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Population
Notable re ...
:
** Vidalon Tunnel, a passage on a ledge above the Deûme (covered in vegetation in 2013);
**Retaining walls with characteristic stone-setting of the "Station district" (in the Place de la Gare in Annonay); Sacré-Cœur tunnel;
**the Vissenty cutting.
Religious heritage
*The Church Our Lady of the Assumption, in the neo-Byzantine Roman style, built between 1904 and 1912. Its bell tower contains a Carillon
A carillon ( , ) is a pitched percussion instrument that is played with a musical keyboard, keyboard and consists of at least 23 bells. The bells are Bellfounding, cast in Bell metal, bronze, hung in fixed suspension, and Musical tuning, tu ...
of five bells with a weight more than . It replaced a church of the same patronage located on the Place de la Liberté.[Parish of Sainte Claire d’Annonay-Vocance website](_blank)
The work of the architects Rey, Allengry, and Joly. Its interior decoration (paste paintings) is inspired by the Litanies of the Blessed Virgin, the Litany of Loreto
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Marian litany originally approved in 1587 by Pope Sixtus V. It is also known as the Litany of Loreto (Latin: ''Litaniae lauretanae''), after its first-known place of origin, the Shrine of Our Lady of ...
, the Bible
The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally writt ...
, hagiography
A hagiography (; ) is a biography of a saint or an ecclesiastical leader, as well as, by extension, an adulatory and idealized biography of a preacher, priest, founder, saint, monk, nun or icon in any of the world's religions. Early Christian ...
, and the history of Annonay.[Antoine Grimaud, ''Annonay, municipal life from 1870 to 1920'', Imprimerie Hervé, Annonay, 1926, 540 pages ][Gaston Grimaud, ''My old Annonay'', Decombe frères, Annonay, 1948, 48 pages ] Consecrated in 1954, it contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
**2 Statues: Adoring Angels (18th century)
**A Statue: Virgin and child (18th century)
**A Gallery Organ (1880) signed ''Cavaillé-Coll''.
**A Choir Organ (1848)
**2 Statues: Acolyte
An acolyte is an assistant or follower assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession. In many Christian denominations, an acolyte is anyone performing ceremonial duties such as lighting altar candles. In others, the term is used f ...
Angels (17th century)
**2 Statues: Cherub
A cherub (; : cherubim; ''kərūḇ'', pl. ''kərūḇīm'') is one type of supernatural being in the Abrahamic religions. The numerous depictions of cherubim assign to them many different roles, such as protecting the entrance of the Garden of ...
s (17th century)
**A Bust-Reliquary: Saint John of the Cross (17th century)
**A Bust-Reliquary: Saint Peter of Alcantara (17th century)
*The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone ( 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italian mystic, poet and Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Christian life of poverty, he ...
, in neo-Gothic style (1863–1866).
*The Church of Saint Joseph
According to the canonical Gospels, Joseph (; ) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus.
Joseph is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic Church, Eastern O ...
of Cance, in neo-Gothic style (1870–1872).
*The Church of the Holy Family
The Holy Family consists of the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. The subject became popular in art from the 1490s on,Ainsworth, 122 but veneration of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint François de La ...
of Perrières, in modern style (1957–1958).
*The Church of Saint Maurice
Maurice (also Moritz, Morris, Maurits, or Mauritius; ) was an Egyptians, Egyptian military leader who headed the legendary Theban Legion of Roman Empire, Rome in the 3rd century, and is one of the favourite and most widely venerated saints of tha ...
of Toissieu, in neo-Gothic style (1876–1878).
*The Chapel of the Evangelical Free Church, Boulevard de la République (1900).
*The Temple of the Reformed Church, Rue Franki Kramer, portal from the 18th century.
*Orient House, Muslim cultural and religious center (2008–2013).
*The Chapel of the Hospital, dating from the 17th century.[ The chapel contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
**A Sideboard (19th century)
**2 ]Apothecary
''Apothecary'' () is an Early Modern English, archaic English term for a medicine, medical professional who formulates and dispenses ''materia medica'' (medicine) to physicians, surgeons and patients. The modern terms ''pharmacist'' and, in Brit ...
Jars (19th century)
**A Venetian Wall lamp mirror (18th century)
**A Chest of Drawers with diamond corners (18th century)
**A Painting: Christ on the Cross (17th century)
**A Painting: The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian (17th century)
**A Painting with gold frame: Pope Clement VI (18th century)
**A Painting with gold frame: Saint Jerome (17th century)
**A Painting with gold frame: Adoration of the Trinity (17th century)
**24 Apothecary
''Apothecary'' () is an Early Modern English, archaic English term for a medicine, medical professional who formulates and dispenses ''materia medica'' (medicine) to physicians, surgeons and patients. The modern terms ''pharmacist'' and, in Brit ...
Jars (19th century)
**A Mortar and pestle (1654)
**A Mortar and pestle with chopping block (13th century)
*The Chapel of the Convent of Saint Mary (1633) is registered as an historical monument. The convent was built on the foundations of a castle called Malatour in 1630 with the Chapel built later in 1633.[ The chapel contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
**A Triptyche: 3 paintings of the life of Saint Francis Regis (1888)
**A ]Retable
A retable is a structure or element placed either on or immediately behind and above the altar or communion table of a church. At the minimum, it may be a simple shelf for candles behind an altar, but it can also be a large and elaborate struct ...
(17th century)
**A framed Painting: Raphael Sara and Tobie (17th century)
**Wood panelling and Paintings (17th century)
*The Vierge des Fouines Statue (Nosy Virgin Statue) or ''Our Lady of Faith Statue'' placed on the rocks of Saint-Denis. 5.22 metres tall and the work of Bachini from Lyon. It was blessed on 26 September 1943.[
*The Chapel of Trachin or Trachi is in Gothic style with an octagonal bell tower, with remains of a priory dating from 1320. The chapel contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
**A Decorative ceiling painting (19th century)
**A Bust of Saint François-de-Sales (17th century)
**A Painting: the Nativity of the Virgin (18th century)
**A Painting: Saints Jacques and Philippe (1658)
**A Statue: Virgin and child (18th century)
*The Chapel of Vidalon-les-Annonay contains a Gallery Organ (1818) that is registered as an historical object.
*The former Chapel of Saint-Clair in Rue Sadi Carnot (14th century) is registered as an historical monument. It was built in Gothic style from 1348 to 1356.
*The Cemetery chapel at Toissieu.
]
Military Heritage
*The War Memorial (1914–1918, 1939–1945, and subsequent wars). Designed by architect Maurice Luquet, the statues ''The pensive soldier'' and ''The Stricken Woman'' were sculpted by Paul Landowski
Paul Maximilien Landowski (1 June 1875 – 31 March 1961) was a French monument sculptor of Polish descent. His best-known work is '' Christ the Redeemer'' in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Biography
Landowski was born in Paris, France, of a Polish re ...
. It was inaugurated on 25 June 1922.[
*The Monument of Mobiles (1907) at the cemetery. Designed by architect Theodore Joly and sculptor Aimé Millet.][
*An Old door from the castle dating from the 12th century.
*The Soubises Vaults, remnants of the walls with a covered path around (12th–13th centuries).][
*The Tower of Martyrs, from the 12th century, the remains of the ramparts of the city, this tower is located above the Deume. It is said that the condemned were thrown to their death in the shallow river. It is also believed that the name may come from the Martins ford which it defended.][
]
Cultural heritage
*The "Italian" Theatre (1887), in the Place des Cordeliers, built on the site of the chapel of the former Franciscan convent.
Notable people
*François Antoine de Boissy d'Anglas
François-Antoine de Boissy d'Anglas, Count of the Empire (1756–1826) was a French writer, lawyer and politician during the Revolution and the Empire.
Biography
Early career
Born to a Protestant family in Saint-Jean-Chambre, Ardèche, he s ...
(1756–1826), writer, lawyer and politician
* Pierre Bertrand (1280–1349), cardinal, theologian, and canonis
*Joseph-Michel (1740–1810) and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier
The Montgolfier brothers – Joseph-Michel Montgolfier (; 26 August 1740 – 26 June 1810) and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier (; 6 January 1745 – 2 August 1799) – were aviation pioneers, balloonists and paper manufacturers from the Communes o ...
(1745–1799), aviation pioneers, balloonists and paper manufacturers
* André Joseph Abrial (1750–1826), politician and Minister of Justice
*The Monneron brothers, founders of the Monneron Bank (1791–1792): Paul Mérault Monneron, Chief Engineer of the La Perouse expedition, Joseph François Augustin Monneron, Pierre Antoine Monneron, Louis Monneron, and Charles Claude Ange Monneron.
*Marc Seguin
Marc Seguin (20 April 1786 – 24 February 1875) was a French engineer, inventor of the wire-Wire rope, cable suspension bridge and the multi-tubular steam-engine firetube boiler, boiler.
Early life
Seguin was born in Annonay, Ardèche to Ma ...
(1786–1875), engineer, inventor of the wire-cable suspension bridge and the fire-tube boiler
A fire-tube boiler is a type of boiler invented in 1828 by Marc Seguin, in which hot gases pass from a fire through one or more tubes running through a sealed container of water. The heat of the gases is transferred through the walls of the tube ...
* Auguste Bravais (1811–1863), physicist
* François Joseph Clozel (1860–1918), governor of French West Africa
French West Africa (, ) was a federation of eight French colonial empires#Second French colonial empire, French colonial territories in West Africa: Colonial Mauritania, Mauritania, French Senegal, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guin ...
*Joseph Canteloube
Marie-Joseph Canteloube de Malaret (; 21 October 18794 November 1957) was a French composer, musicologist, and author best known for his collections of orchestrated folksongs from the Auvergne (province), Auvergne region, ''Chants d'Auvergne''.
...
(1879–1957), composer, musicologist and author
* Maurice Grimaud (1913–2009), police chief of Paris during the May 68
May 68 () was a period of widespread protests, strikes, and civil unrest in France that began in May 1968 and became one of the most significant social uprisings in modern European history. Initially sparked by student demonstrations agains ...
*Fred (1924–2019) and René Mella (1926–2019), tenors of Les Compagnons de la chanson
Les Compagnons de la chanson were a French harmony vocal group, formed in 1946 from an earlier group founded in Lyon, France in 1941. Their best known song was " Les trois cloches" recorded with Edith Piaf in 1946. Consisting of eight or nine mem ...
* Roger Dumas (1932–2016) actor
*Olivier Dussopt
Olivier Dussopt (; born 16 August 1978) is a French politician who served as minister of labour, employment and integration in the government of prime minister Élisabeth Borne from 2022 to 2024. He previously served as minister of public actio ...
(born 1978), politician
* Clément Grenier (born 1991), footballer
Culture
*Archives: Parish and Civil Records, genealogical analysis, municipal Proceedings
*Museum of the Canson & Montgolfier paper-makers: traces the history of the cottage industry of paper. It is the only museum to present a large working paper machine.
*Vivarois Municipal Museum César Filhol: presents local ethnology, collections, and traces the history of local inventions by the Montgolfiers and Seguins.
*Occitan Occitan may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Occitania territory in parts of France, Italy, Monaco and Spain.
* Something of, from, or related to the Occitania administrative region of France.
* Occitan language, spoken in parts o ...
culture still holds a significant place
*Jean-Pierre Mocky
Jean-Pierre Mocky (6 July 1929 – 8 August 2019), pseudonym of Jean-Paul Adam Mokiejewski, was a French film director, actor, screenwriter and producer.
Early life and education
Mocky was born on 6 July 1929 in Nice, France, to Polish immigra ...
used the town as the setting for his film ''Litan'' (1982).
*The 2003 part-British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
funded movie
A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...
'' L'homme du train'' (The Man on the Train) was filmed in Annonay.
Culinary specialities
*Angel wings
Angel wings are a traditional sweet crisp pastry made out of dough that has been shaped into thin twisted ribbons, deep-fried, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Common to many European cuisines, angel wings have been incorporated into othe ...
(Bugnes)
*Pantins
*Pogne of Annonay
Local press
The regional newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré
''Le Dauphiné libéré'' is a provincial daily French newspaper known for its emphasis on local news and events. The paper is published in Grenoble, France.
History and profile
Founded in 1945, it takes the name from the former province of D ...
is available in Annonay. It also hosts the headquarters of the weekly ''Le Reveil du Vivarais''. Another weekly ''L'Hebdo de l'Ardèche'' also covers the territory. Since the early 2000s a free monthly made its appearance
L'Indispensable
is distributed among traders in the Annonay basin. It informs readers about cultural events taking place around the region.
Festivals
;Each year:
*In February:
**The Premier International Festival of FilmThe International Festival of Premier Films
*In June:
**The Festival of Hot air Ballooning (1st weekend).
**The ''Festi'roc 07'', a Christian modern music festival, it is organized by the Catholic parishes of the Annonay Basin.
*In November:
**The Love of good food of Ardèche and Upper Vivarais, (3rd weekend). This is organized by the association of the same name. During a weekend, the Place des Cordeliers becomes a showcase of Ardèche products. Sixty exhibitors and many activities punctuate this event.
*The Championship of France for Hot air Ballooning
Gallery
Hôtel de Ville d'Annonay.jpg, City hall
Annonay (Trachin).jpg, Bell Tower of the Chapel of Trachin
valgelas.jpg , The Valgelas Bridge near the Soubises Vaults and the Place de la Mure
Annonay (Notre Dame).jpg, Church of Our Lady
Annonay, porte ancienne place Grenette.JPG , Old door in the Place Grenette (16th century)
Annonay (St François).jpg, Church of Saint Francis
Chemin des Terres, Annonay, Ardèches, France..JPG, Chemin des Terres
Annonay (chapelle de l'hôpital).jpg, Chapel of the Hospital (18th century)
Batisse typique d'Annonay, Ardèche, France..JPG, "Sainte-Barbe" House
chateau_annonay-2.jpg, An overview of Mirecouly Castle, illustration of the "Sun belt"
Historical bibliography
*François Chomel, ''Annonay pas à pas, pierre à pierre'', Édition du Vivarais, Annonay, 1995, 250 p.
*Pierre Fanget, ''Annonay ma ville'', Annonay, 1971.
*Abbé Filhol, ''Histoire religieuse et civile d'Annonay et du Haut–Vivarais depuis l'origine de cette ville jusqu'à nos jours'', Tomes 1, 2, 3 et 4, Moussy ainé, 1882.
*Emmanuelle Faure, Claude Osset, ''Annonay, Mémoire en images'', Éditions Alan Sutton, Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, 127 pages, 2004.
*Emmanuelle Faure, Bernard Faure, Claude Osset, ''Annonay en Fêtes, 1860–2000'', Jean Pierre Huguet Editeur, Saint-Julien-Molin-Molette, 2002, 283 p.
*''La Gazette d'Annonay'', Hebdomadaire local paraissant entre 1889 et 1944.
*Antoine Grimaud, ''Annonay, la vie municipale de 1870 à 1920'', Imprimerie Hervé, Annonay, 1926, 540 p.
*Gaston Grimaud, ''Mon vieil Annonay'', Decombe frères, Annonay, 1948, 48 p.
*Le ''Journal d'Annonay'', Hebdomadaire local paraissant entre 1865 et 1944.
*Abbé Léorat Picansel, ''Annonay pendant la Terreur'', Tomes 1 et 2, Amis du Fonds Vivarois, 1988.
*Rémy Bernard, ''Histoire d'Annonay et sa région'', Horvath, Roanne, 1981, 149 p.
*''Le Réveil du Vivarais et de la vallée du Rhône'', Hebdomadaire local paraissant depuis 1944.
See also
* Communes of the Ardèche department
The following is a list of the 335 communes of the Ardèche department of France.
The communes cooperate in the following intercommunalities (as of 2025):[Parlement of Toulouse
The Parlement of Toulouse () was one of the '' parlements'' of the Kingdom of France, established in the city of Toulouse and responsible for a territory roughly similar to the modern administrative region of Occitania. It was modelled on the ...]
** Languedoc
The Province of Languedoc (, , ; ) is a former province of France.
Most of its territory is now contained in the modern-day region of Occitanie in Southern France. Its capital city was Toulouse. It had an area of approximately .
History
...
** Estates of Languedoc
The Estates of Languedoc was the provincial assembly for the province of Languedoc during the ancien regime
''Ancien'' may refer to
* the French word for "ancient, old"
** Société des anciens textes français
* the French for "former, senior ...
** Vivarais
Vivarais (; ; {{cite web , url=http://www.columbia.edu/acis/ets/Graesse/orblatv.html , title = ORBIS LATINUS - Letter V) is a traditional region in the south-east of France, covering the ''département'' of Ardèche, named after its capital Vivier ...
** Pays d'états
Notes
References
*
*
External links
Annonay Official website
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ardèche
Annonay on Lion1906
Annonay on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Annonay'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
{{Authority control
Communes of Ardèche
Massif Central