Saint-Cannat
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Commune of Saint-Cannat |
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| Location | |
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Department | Bouches-du-Rhône |
| Arrondissement | Aix-en-Provence |
| Canton | Lambesc |
| Intercommunality | Pays d'Aix |
| Mayor | Jacky Gérard (2001-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 159 m–391 m (avg. 212 m) |
| Land area¹ | 36.54 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
4,634 |
| - Density | 126/km² (1999) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 13091/ 13760 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
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Saint-Cannat is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône département in southern France.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
It has retained several fountains and lavatories dating back to the 17th and 18th century, the remains of the medieval ramparts and the chateau, which today houses the town hall and museum.
The Route nationale 7 runs across the village.
[edit] History
The village was named after Canus Natus in the fifth century[1] , who was a Roman clergyman born with white hair, a quirk synonymous with great wisdom at the time. He was entombed in Saint-Cannat, although there was no such place at the time, but soon enough several houses were built into a hamlet[1].
In the twelfth century, Archbishop Pierre mentioned, 'Castrum Santi - Cannati' in a paper[1].
In the thirteenth century, villagers turned on their archbishop and pledged allegiance to the Lord of the Baux-de-Provence, and then to the kings of Sicily (namely, Frederic III of Aragon, or perhaps Louis XIII). This, however, only lasted three years. In the same century, the Knights Templar established a settlement there[1].
On 11 June 1911 there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed nearly everything, yet things were re-built in the same style[1].
Both in 1984 and 1994 huge floods ravaged most houses[1].
[edit] Famous residents
- Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez was born there on 17 July 1789[1].
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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