Saint-Cannat

Saint-Cannat

Saint-Cannat
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
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 159–391 m (522–1,283 ft)
(avg. 212 m/696 ft)
Land area1 36.54 km2 (14.11 sq mi)
Population2 5,347  (2008)
 - Density 146 /km2 (380 /sq mi)
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 without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Cannat is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France.

It has retained several fountains 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 through the village.

Contents

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 1909 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]

Population

Historical population of Saint-Cannat
Year 1793 1800 1806 1821 1831 1836 1841 1846 1851 1856
Population 1759 2009 1921 1813 1655 1701 1721 1994 2006 1983
Year 1861 1866 1872 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896 1901 1906
Population 1929 1812 1710 1535 1403 1269 1235 1212 1292 1232
Year 1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1946 1954 1962 1968 1975
Population 1278 1058 1135 1137 1074 1034 1086 1254 1675 1862
Year 1982 1990 1999 2008
Population 2384 3918 4626 5347

Personalities

See also

References

External links