Paray-le-Monial

Paray-le-Monial

Apse of the basilica of Paray-le-Monial.

Coat of arms
Paray-le-Monial

Coordinates: 46°27′07″N 4°07′13″E / 46.4519°N 04.1203°E / 46.4519; 04.1203Coordinates: 46°27′07″N 4°07′13″E / 46.4519°N 04.1203°E / 46.4519; 04.1203
Country France
Region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Department Saône-et-Loire
Arrondissement Charolles
Canton Paray-le-Monial
Intercommunality Paray-le-Monial
Government
 • Mayor (2001–2008) Jean-Marc Nesme
Area1 25.20 km2 (9.73 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 9,502
 • Density 380/km2 (980/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 71342 / 71600
Elevation 234–304 m (768–997 ft)
(avg. 245 m or 804 ft)

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.
Hôtel de Ville (town hall)

Paray-le-Monial [pa.ʁɛ.lə.mɔn.jal] is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France.

Geography

The river Bourbince flows northwestward through the commune and crosses the town.

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.

Main sights

Sacré-Coeur church.
Cloister.

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 dates 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.

Another major building in Paray-le-Monial, is Saint Nicolas' tower, built during the 16th century, which hosts different exhibitions but mainly mosaic exhibitions.

Economy

The area's primary industry is agriculture in particular dairy farming.

Notable people

Paray-le-Monial was the birthplace of:

Paray-le-Monial was also home to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, where, in the Visitation convent, she had visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Twin towns - Sister cities

Paray-le-Monial is twinned with:

Tourism

In Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, you can see :

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bethlehem Municipality". www.bethlehem-city.org. Retrieved 2009-10-10.

Sources

 Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Paray-le-Monial". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 

External links

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