Saint-Amand-Montrond

Saint-Amand-Montrond
Subprefecture and commune

The church of Saint-Amand, in Saint-Amand-Montrond

Coat of arms
Saint-Amand-Montrond

Coordinates: 46°42′N 2°31′E / 46.70°N 2.51°E / 46.70; 2.51Coordinates: 46°42′N 2°31′E / 46.70°N 2.51°E / 46.70; 2.51
Country France
Region Centre-Val de Loire
Department Cher
Arrondissement Saint-Amand-Montrond
Canton Saint-Amand-Montrond
Intercommunality CC Cœur de France
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Thierry Vinçon
Area1 20.17 km2 (7.79 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 11,376
 • Density 560/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 18197 /18200
Elevation 148–312 m (486–1,024 ft)
(avg. 162 m or 531 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.

Saint-Amand-Montrond (French: [sɛ̃.t‿a.mɑ̃.mɔ̃.tʁɔ̃]) is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France and le Berry. It is sourouned by the French countryside but has Le Châtre nearby.

Saint-Amand-Montrond has many notable features. Firstly the Berry Canal runs through it and now small electronic boats can be hired to ride briefly on the canal. In the outskirts is an iconic glass pyramid 'le cité d'or' (the golden city or the city of gold) it is a museum dedicated to the global history of gold around the world. In the town centre there are two town squares, one has the bandstand with public toilets underneath, surrounded by a car park and shops. The town centre has a wide variety of shops in the beautiful, charming and typical French streets between the two squares. The second one has a fountain as the centre piece; a small children's play area in the corner; a smaller car park; a family-friendly pub, that sponsors Saint-Armand-Montrond football team and a group of shops ranging from a farm shop to a friendly boulangerie to a crêperie.

Saint-Amand-Montrond literally translates to Saint Amand round hill, despite not being on a round hill.

Geography

A small town of farming and a little light industry situated some 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Bourges, at the junction of the D951 with the D300 and D2144 roads. The town was built in the basin of the eastern banks of the Cher River which separates it from the commune of Orval, to which it is connected by two bridges.

A small river, the Marmande, joins the Cher here, and the canal de Berry crosses the commune from southeast to southwest. Some flooding is common because of the nearby marshes. The town is the capital of the small region of Boischaut, known for its woodland and cattle pastures.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
196210,890—    
196811,495+5.6%
197512,278+6.8%
198212,451+1.4%
199011,937−4.1%
199911,447−4.1%
200811,376−0.6%
Town hall

History

The settlement of Saint-Amand goes back to prehistoric times. Evidence of Roman occupation has also been discovered here. An abbey was founded here around the year 620 by a monk called Theodulph. The commune was created after the French Revolution by the amalgamation of three separate small towns that had grown up during the Middle Ages: Saint Amand le Chastel, Montrond and Saint Amand sous Montrond.

Sights

Personalities

Economy

The town is noted for its goldsmiths and jewellers. It has 9 companies specialising in gold work as well as a professional school dedicated to jewellery.

Two large printing companies, Bussière and Clerc, produce large volumes of books and magazines.

Twin towns

See also

References

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