Autun
Autun | |
|---|---|
      From top down, left to right:Autun Cathedral,Passage de la Terrasse, Lycée militaire, Autun Theatre and City Hall, Roman-era theatre,Temple of Janus | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Autun  | |
  Autun  Autun | |
| Coordinates:46°57′06″N4°17′58″E/ 46.9517°N 4.2994°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté |
| Department | Saône-et-Loire |
| Arrondissement | Autun |
| Canton | Autun-1,Autun-2 |
| Intercommunality | CC du Grand Autunois Morvan |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–2026) | Vincent Chauvet[1](MoDem) |
| Area 1 | 61.52 km2(23.75 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 13,145 |
| • Density | 210/km2(550/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00(CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 71014/71400 |
| Elevation | 280–642 m (919–2,106 ft) |
| 1French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2(0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Autun(French:[otœ̃]) is asubprefectureof theSaône-et-Loiredepartmentin theBourgogne-Franche-Comtéregionof central-easternFrance.It was founded during thePrincipateera of the earlyRoman Empireby EmperorAugustusasAugustodunumto give a Roman capital to theGallicpeopleAedui,who hadBibracteas their political centre. In Roman times the city may have been home to 30,000 to 100,000 people, according to different estimates.[3]Nowadays, thecommunehas a population of about 15,000.
Geography
[edit]The commune lies in the northwest of the department.
| Climate data for Autun (1991–2020 averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.9 (62.4) |
20.3 (68.5) |
25.3 (77.5) |
28.2 (82.8) |
32.2 (90.0) |
36.9 (98.4) |
39.2 (102.6) |
40.0 (104.0) |
34.5 (94.1) |
28.9 (84.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
16.8 (62.2) |
40.0 (104.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) |
7.8 (46.0) |
12.3 (54.1) |
15.8 (60.4) |
19.7 (67.5) |
23.5 (74.3) |
25.9 (78.6) |
25.8 (78.4) |
21.3 (70.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
10.2 (50.4) |
6.6 (43.9) |
15.9 (60.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.3 (31.5) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
1.4 (34.5) |
3.5 (38.3) |
7.5 (45.5) |
10.9 (51.6) |
12.6 (54.7) |
12.2 (54.0) |
8.6 (47.5) |
6.3 (43.3) |
2.7 (36.9) |
0.3 (32.5) |
5.4 (41.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −14.3 (6.3) |
−15.9 (3.4) |
−13.2 (8.2) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
0.5 (32.9) |
4.5 (40.1) |
1.7 (35.1) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
−7.9 (17.8) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 80.7 (3.18) |
60.9 (2.40) |
60.1 (2.37) |
64.3 (2.53) |
74.9 (2.95) |
65.8 (2.59) |
60.3 (2.37) |
61.3 (2.41) |
63.1 (2.48) |
79.8 (3.14) |
91.3 (3.59) |
94.7 (3.73) |
857.2 (33.75) |
| Average precipitation days | 10.6 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 10.0 | 10.6 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 10.5 | 11.7 | 12.6 | 117.0 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 67.3 | 102.5 | 161.7 | 196.6 | 209.1 | 245.4 | 261.9 | 228.0 | 191.8 | 124.1 | 71.6 | 58.5 | 1,918.4 |
| Source: Météo France[4][5] | |||||||||||||
History
[edit]Early history
[edit]
Augustodunum was founded during the reign of the firstRoman emperor,Augustus,after whom it was named. It was thecivitas"tribal capital" of the Aedui, ContinentalCeltswho had been allies and "brothers" (fratres) of Rome since beforeJulius Caesar'sGallic Wars.Augustodunum was a planned foundation replacing the originaloppidumBibracte,located some 25 km (16 mi) away. Several elements of Roman architecture such as walls, gates, and a Roman theater are still visible in the town.
In AD 356, a force ofAlemannibrought thesiege of Autun.The disrepair of the walls left the city in danger of falling. Autun was saved by the arrival of theEmperor Julianin one of his early military successes. InLate Antiquity,Autun became famous for its schools ofrhetoric.A world map based on theGeographyofPtolemywas famous for its size and was displayed in theporticoof one of the schools. It may have survived until early modern times.[6]
In 532 theMerovingiankingsChildebert IandChlothar IinBattle of Autundefeated theBurgundiansled by kingGodomarand took over thecountry of Burgundy.[7]In 642 or 643,another battlewas fought near Autun between feuding Frankish noblemen.
In 725, theUmayyadgeneralAnbasa ibn Suhaym Al-Kalbi(عنبسة بن سحيم الكلبي) marched up theSaônevalley to Autun. On 22 August 725 he captured the town after defeating forces led by the local bishop,Émilien of Nantes,who was slain during the course of the battle.
Autun marks the easternmost extent of the Umayyad campaign in Europe. However, the position was never retained, and Anbasa died soon after. The Umayyads are known to have raided the lower Rhone during the next decade, butUzèswas their northernmost stronghold and possiblyMarseillethe easternmost coastal stronghold. In 880, Count Richard of Autun was made thefirst Duke of Burgundy.
In 1506,Barthélemy de Chasseneuzmade his reputation as an attorney, defending the rats of Autun against the charge of eating the barley crop.[8]
Modern times
[edit]In 1788,Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgordbecame bishop of Autun. He was elected member of the clergy for theEstates-General of 1789.
The High School plays an important role in the history of the city and even France sinceNapoleon,who gave it its current name and whose brothersJosephandLucienstudied there. This school continues to operate today. The decoratedwrought irongates were erected in 1772; the subjects taught in the school are indicated by various representations of objects along the top of these grids.
During theFranco-Prussian Warof 1870, the leader of theArmy of the Vosges,Giuseppe Garibaldi,[9]chose the city as his headquarters.
Population
[edit]
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| Source: EHESS[10]and INSEE (1968-2017)[11] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sights
[edit]The city boasts two ancientRomangates (Porte Saint-André and Porte d'Arroux) and other ruins dating to the time of Augustus. One of the most impressive remains is that of the ancient theatre, which was one of the largest in the western part of the empire with a 17,000-seat capacity. To the northwest of the city is the so-called Temple of Janus, only two walls (faces) of which remain. To the southeast is the mysterious Pierre de Couhard, a rock pyramid of uncertain function which may date to Roman times.
Autun Cathedral,also known asSaint Lazare Cathedral,dates from the early twelfth century and is a major example ofRomanesque architecture.It was formerly the chapel of the Dukes of Burgundy; their palace was the actual episcopal residence. The cathedral was originally built as apilgrimagechurch for thevenerationof therelicSaint Lazarus, mentioned in the Gospels, and considered the first bishop of Marseille, and who, always according to tradition, arrived in Provence with Mary Magdalen.
Autun's 12th-century bishop, Étienne de Bâgé, probably built the church in response to theconstruction of Ste. Madeleineat nearbyVézelay,home to the FrenchcultofMary Magdalene.St. Lazare was only later elevated to the rank of cathedral, replacing the former cathedral dedicated toSt. Nazaire.[12]
The Autun Cathedral is famous for its architectural sculpture, particularly thetympanumofThe Last Judgmentabove the westportal,surviving fragments from the lost portal of the northtransept,and thecapitalsin thenaveandchoir.All of these are traditionally considered the work ofGislebertus,whose name is on the west tympanum. It is uncertain whether Gislebertus is the name of the sculptor or of apatron.If Gislebertus is in fact the artist, he is one of very few medieval artists whose name is known.
Other notable connections
[edit]- Bishop and SaintLeodegar(c. 615 – 679)
- Nivelon I (d. 768) was known as Count of Autun
- In the late 9th century,Charles Martel's daughter (name listed as Auda, Alane, or Aldana) marriedThierry IV(also called Theoderich or Theoderic), Count of Autun.
- In the late 9th century, the countship was vacant after the death ofRobert the Strong,but was returned toBernard Plantapilosa,son ofBernard of Septimania,and then later toBernard of Gothiaafter Bernard fell out of favor.
- In 878, KingLouis the Youngertook the countship away and gave it to his chamberlain, Theodoric.
- Honorius Augustodunensis(died c. 1151)
- Barthélemy de Chasseneuzpracticed law in Autun in 1506, became crown attorney of the Autun bailliage in 1508, where he made his reputation as a criminal lawyer by his eloquent defense of a group of rats who were put on trial for destroying the barley crop of the province.
- Nicolas Rolin,Chancellor of Burgundy underPhilip the Good,came from Autun, where several examples of his artistic patronage can be seen. TheRolin Madonna,byJan van Eyck,in theLouvre,shows what was probably at least intended as a view of Autun in the background.
- In 1837, a commercial mining ofoil shaledeposit near Autun marked the beginning of the modernoil-shale industry.[13]
- In 1852, theuraniummineralautunitewas first discovered near Autun, and named for the town.
- Autun is the main setting forJames Salter's 1967 novelA Sport and a Pastime.
- The EuropeanTriathlonChampionships were also held in the town in 2006.
- The Fifth Stage of the2007 Tour de Franceended in the town, with the entrance to Autun being a twisting and winding route down from a nearby mountain.
Tourism
[edit]
Autun's best-known museum is theMusée Rolin.It houses historical artistic collections.
Near Autun, tourists can also see:
- TheArboretum de Pézanin,one of the richest forest collection in France
- TheRock of Solutré
- Cluny Abbeyand its medieval city
- Charollesand the "boeuf charolais"
- Mâcon,Paray-le-Monial
Sister cities
[edit]Autun hassister cityrelationships with the following municipalities.
| City | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Stevenage | United Kingdom | 1975 |
| Ingelheim am Rhein | Germany | |
| Kawagoe | Japan | 2002[14] |
| Arévalo | Spain | 2005 |
See also
[edit]- Abbey of St Andoche, Autun
- Abbey of Saint-Jean-le-Grand
- Autun Cathedral
- Communes of the Saône-et-Loire department
- Morvan Regional Natural Park
- Musée Rolin
- Les Télots Mine
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Autun
References
[edit]- ^"Répertoire national des élus: les maires"(in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^"Populations légales 2021"(in French).The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.28 December 2023.
- ^Xavier de Planhol; Paul Claval (17 March 1994).An Historical Geography of France.Cambridge University Press. p. 47.ISBN978-0-521-32208-9.
- ^"Données climatiques de la station de Troyes"(in French). Meteo France. Archived fromthe originalon 2 June 2019.Retrieved4 January2016.
- ^"Climat Champagne-Ardenne"(in French). Meteo France. Archived fromthe originalon 25 February 2018.Retrieved4 January2016.
- ^John Brian Harley, David Woodward,The History of Cartography Vol Ip. 290.
- ^Stefánik.Historical Atlas of the World.pp. 92–93.ISBN9781781866153.
- ^Edward Payson Evans,The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals(1906), p. 18.
- ^Howard, Michael.The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France, 1870-1871.New York: The Macmillan Company, 1962. p.254
- ^Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui:Commune data sheet Autun,EHESS(in French).
- ^Population en historique depuis 1968,INSEE
- ^Linda Seidel,Legends in limestone: Lazarus, Gislebertus, and the Cathedral of Autun(University of Chicago Press, 1999), p. 35online.
- ^Laherrère, Jean(2005)."Review on oil shale data"(PDF).Hubbert Peak. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2007-09-28.Retrieved2007-06-17.
- ^フランス nước cộng hoà ブルゴーニュ châu オータン thị(in Japanese). Japan: Kawagoe International Center. 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-04-26.Retrieved29 November2014.
Further reading
[edit]- Westermann,Großer Atlas zur Weltgeschichte(in German)
External links
[edit]
- Official website(in French)
- Visiting Autun (tourist map and photos)
- Adrian Fletcher's Paradoxplace – Autun Cathedral St-Lazare Photo Pages
- The Stevenage-Ingelheim-Autun Association
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