Annonay

Annonay (in Occitan Anonai ) is a common French Frenchwoman , located in the area the Rhone-Alps. With its 17.522 inhabitants in 2006, Annonay is the most populated commune Département of Ardeche.

The inhabitants are called Annonéens .

Geography

The traveller who goes up since the Valley of the the Rhone, has sorrow to imagine that an important city is blottie with ten kilometers.

At the foot of the Mounts of the Vivarais, Annonay is located at 75 km of Lyon, at 45 km of Valence and at 40 km of Saint-Etienne. Built like Rome with the hollow of seven hills it still keeps the traces of a past in charge of history. In contact with areas to the very different relief, the city was built in amphitheater starting from the banks of the two rivers: The Cance and culminating Deûme.Point: Montmiandon to 679 m

This privileged situation made of Annonay a crossroads of roads.

Economic capital of Ardeche, Annonay developed around industries of leather, paper as of the 17th century and the bus. New activities like food industry and the drug company come to reinforce this economic fabric which is directed today towards the tertiary sector, new technologies and the country holidays

Communes bordering

History

Antiquity

The origin even of the name of the city lent to many assumptions. One of them would like that Annonay comes from Annoniacum or field of Annonius , rich Roman who would have lived there.

Middle Ages

At the 13th century the small town of Annonay becomes a big step on the road of 2 Pilgrimage S of which that of the Virgin of the Puy-en-Velay. Hotels for Pilgrim S are created, 5 Monastère S and 2 priories are founded. In 1487 the city will count 14 churches for approximately 2.000 inhabitants. To the wars of religion, the monks (clerks) will represent until half of the population.

The families Roussillon , Rohan-Soubise , Levis-Ventadour , dominate the area. But the city, like much from others to its time, gradually goes to gain in autonomy. In 1288 a chartre is signed between the city and the lord of Annonay. This one gives much autonomy to the city: right of lifting of the sizes, etc. From 1365 the city is directed by 2 consuls.

During the 15th century Annonay becomes a commercial crossroads exporting its wine. Its muleteers ensure exchange them between the valley of the Rhone, the Dauphiné and the mountain. The Tannerie develops quickly by using water of the Deume which bathes the city. This relative prosperity attracts the troops of Brigands or the Mercenaires. The Routiers leave disasters memories, the Guerre One hundred Year old also. To protect itself, the city will reinforce its ramparts: turns of guet, doors for contôler entries and exits.

In 1564 following the revolt of the Constable of Bourbon, his goods, to which belonged Annonay, are confiscated and attached directly to the field of king de France.

Wars of religion

The day before the civil war, Annonay counts three thousand five hundred inhabitants. The districts of Cance and Deûme are forsaken by richest with the profit of the place Vieille , the place Grenette , the street of the Forging mills (old Main street).

Annonay knows the Protestantisme before Geneva. As of 1528, a monk cordelier, Etienne Machopolis which had intended Luther to preach in Saxony, spreads his doctrines with Annonay. In 1539 two merchants of Annonay who tried to diffuse the doctrines of Luther are burned alives. But the majority of the inhabitants spontaneously adopt Protestantism undoubtedly in reaction to the excess of the clerks very present in this city. The new religion, less dogmatic, answers better waitings of a population strongly turned towards the trade and industry.

From 1562, and during more than thirty years, the wars will devastate the city.

This year the massacre of the Protestants with Vassy by the duke of Own way starts the wars of religion. Rich and strengthened Annonay city is an important issue of this civil war. Annonay is plundered and devastated with 4 recoveries during the same year: by the Protestants, then by a catholic war leader, a protesting war leader and finally by the lord of Chamond Saint. In 1563 the edict of Amboise restores peace. Annonay is indicated as the city of the Baillage where the reformed worship can be practiced. In 1565 prosperity is of return. Annonay becomes the seat of the baillage.

1568 mark the return of the hostilities: the two war leaders Saint Romain (protesting) and Holy Chamond (catholic) take in turn Annonay and ransack it. In 1572 France ignites again after the Massacre of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Saint Romain seizes the city. Almost all the still intact churches are cut down. The city knows a long period of peace thereafter. It needs some because the trade and industry are destroyed, the city is in ruin. The city does not count any more that 300 fires is approximately 1500 inhabitants. The conflict drove out the religious orders: Annonay will be from now on a city dedicated to the trade and industry.

With the signature of the Edict of Nantes granting certain freedoms the Protestants, the city finds his calm and the will to rebuild becomes strongest. However in 1586 Annonay is devastated by an epidemic of plague then the famine.

At the end of XVIème century the city counts about thirty tanneries installed on the two rivers which surround it: the Deume and the Cance. This industry is supported by the quality of their water and the prosperity of the breedings in the neighborhoods. The tawing (the transformation of leather tanned into end products) also develops. One counts 11 tanners and 4 mégissiers in 1590, 20 tanners and 37 mégissiers in 1704

XVIIe- XVIIIe centuries

In 1685 the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes strongly touches Annonay. The Protestants who account for 50% of the population then must choose between the escape abroad or the practice of their religion in clandestinity. It is a disaster for the economy because the people concerned are particularly numerous in the class of the craftsmen, the industrialists and the tradesmen. A census carried out a little more than one century later will enter nothing any more but 7% of Protestants in majority resulting from the higher classes.

Paper industry is established in Annonay in 1693: the brothers Montgolfier, Paper S originating in Auvergne, settle in Vidalon in Annonay and join another family of origin auvergnate, Johannot, installed since 1634 in Faya. They are attracted in this place by water quality, the driving force gotten by the rivers and the abundance of the raw material (at the time the rags). In their factories they put in work the last technological innovations from Holland (the Dutch pile) and develop new manufacturing processes.

In 1780 the industry of the milked tannery, this year there, 25.000 skins of cows and sheep and 500.000 sheepskins. The factories of paper of the Mongolfier families and consorts produce 300 tons of paper. In 1781, the Bailliage becomes Sénéchaussée. the authorities of Annonay must fight so that the city preserves the seat of the new administrative structure.

In 1782, the December 14th, the Brothers Montgolfier, Joseph and Etienne develop the first balloon which makes it possible the man to achieve his beginnings in the airs: the first Montgolfière rises with Davézieux, a few kilometres from Annonay. It consists of a large doubled paper bag of fabric placed above a fire of wet straw and wool. Several other inventions are to be put at the account of Joseph: the Hydraulic ram, manufacturing process of the Vellum paper and the filter paper (known as paper " joseph" ).

Annonay became an important shopping mall. The central capacity improved the highway network for better repressing the revolt of the camisards, one long period of peace facilitated the development of the trade: Annonay counts in 1787 for less than 7000 inhabitants 130 tradesmen including 11 clothiers, 11 linen, 26 grocers, 3 goldsmiths, 26 merchants of shoe, 28 tailors and merchants of dress.

The Revolution occurs carefully to Annonay where the representatives, while being very favorable to the new order, adopt a moderate attitude. This moderation is well illustrated by the personality of the representative of Annonay, the lawyer François-Antoine de Boissy d' Anglas. That Ci, moderated leader, writer of the new constitution, will be maintained in the favors of the capacity under Napoleon then Louis XVIII. Andre Joseph Abrial, native of Annonay, becomes Minister for Justice and is one of the writers of the Civil code (Code Napoleon).

XIXesiècle

The XIXème century to see the industrial rise of Annonay: it is especially the Mégisserie, i.e. the work of the leather which will draw industrial prosperity from Annonay. This growth is related to an evolution of the mode which increases the demand for gloves. The top-of-the-range gloves are manufactured with Grenoble but the best skins come from Annonay. More than 3000 peasants of the area are discharged to work in the factories. In 1870 the tawing annonéenne treats 8 million skins and employs 50% of the workmen of the city.

The improvement of the highway network, the creation of the first railway lines, put an end to the role of Annonay as a shopping mall for the back mountainous country. This last is from now on directly in relation to Saint-Etienne. The East-West exchanges which favoured Annonay are replaced by North-South exchanges which follow in particular the valley of the the Rhone.

The war of 1870 involves the closing of the international outlets for the tawing. Stocks of the factories of Annonay are during a time blocked in Paris. It is the recession, accelerated by the weakness of the industrial investments during the years which preceded. More than 2.000 paid are laid off. The discharged workmen will find work in France elsewhere. Annonay reached a demographic top which it will not find any more before the years 1950.

Barthéméy Barou from Canson marries the girl of Etienne Mongolfier. He and its contemporaries will invent new manufactoring processes and will draw local paper industry towards the specialized products. This industry employs 1500 people about 1875.

XXe century

At the XXe century, the mechanical engineering industries develop: machines for the tannery and especially manufacture of coaches; the old artisanal company of Jean-Joseph Besset became Renault Véhicules Industrial and since 1999 IRISBUS .

The descendants of the Montgolfier brothers, B. and E. of Canson, invented the tracing paper, of photographic papers, etc… The paper mill resisted the vicissitudes of time and, today, the Paper mills Canson and Montgolfier are one of the florets of industry annonéenne.

Heraldic

Traditional weapons of the town of Annonay: “Chequered, of gold and mouths. ”

The currency of Annonay cives Cives and semper means: “citizen and always citizen”.

Administration

Demography

Economy

Famous in the past for its paper mills, its industries of Annonay leather currently shelters industries in mechanical engineering, body, textiles, shoes and medicinal products.

This economic fabric is directed today towards the tertiary sector, new technologies and the country holidays

Annonay is the seat of the Chamber of commerce and industry North-Ardeche.

Monuments

  • old Door of the old castle of the 12th century partly destroyed about 1968

  • Valgelas Bridge of the 14th century.
  • Church of the 17th century.
  • Turn of the martyrs: tower located at the top of the Deume which one threw condemned died, it would die while being crushed in the river having not very basic.

Personalities related to the commune

  • François-Antoine de Boissy d' Anglas

    See also: François-Antoine de Boissy d' Anglas

  • Guillaume of Roussillon lord of Annonay of 1271 to 1277 envoy of the king de France Philippe III the Bold one and of the Pope Gregoire X with Midsummer's Day d' Acre in 1275 capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Victim of a plot fomented by Charles of Anjou and Guillaume de Beaujeu main of the temple it did not return from there and his/her Artaud son taken the succession of the " old man château".
  • Pierre Bertrand (1280-1349): cardinal, Jurisconsult which defended the jurisdiction of the church to the conferences of Vincennes (1329).
  • Count Abrial (1750-1826): politician and magistrate who played a big role under the Consulate, the Empire and the Restoration.
  • Barthelemy of Canson (1774-1859): paper maker famous for his creation of the drawing paper which bears its name
  • the brothers Monneron founders of the Banque Monneron (1791-1792).
  • the family Montgolfier and inventors of the Montgolfier: the Montgolfier Brothers

    See also: Brothers Montgolfier

    .

  • Marc Seguin (1786-1875):

    See also: Marc Seguin

  • Auguste Bravais (1811-1863): physicist polytechnician. One owes him the discovery of the reticular structure of the crystals. He did one of the first scientific rises of Mont Blanc (1844)
  • Marie-Joseph Canteloube de Malaret (10/21/1879 with Annonay- 11/4/1957 in Paris): Raise of Vincent d' Indy, specialist in the popular songs of the French provinces and in particular its “Songs of Auvergne”. He also wrote operas.
  • Vital Chomel (8/24/1922 with Annonay): conservative, then directing of the files of Isere (1958-88), author of important works on his speciality and the Dauphine one in general.
  • Jacques Trémolin: known as animalist storyteller, this resistant aristocrat and Communist organized under the pseudonym of Loyola (reference to its education among Jesuits) the release of the in June 1944 city, proclaimed the republic there and was mayor until the recovery by the Germans.
  • the Bechetoille family, merchant-clothiers then banking.
  • the Johannot family, family of creative Protestant origin of the first Paper mill of Annonay in 1634. (the " Jo" of Arjomari: grouping of four large paper mills Frenchwoman)
  • the Binet family, family of origin Protestant, cousin of Johnannot, known for its manufacture of Felt, and baize of the same name which were used for drying of the Pulp paper. This technique is still used nowadays for the manufacture of banknotes.

Twinnings

Twinning is “triangular”:
  • Backnang and Chelmsford being twinned between them since 1990.

Culture

  • Files: Parochial registers and of civil statue, genealogical Examinations, municipal Deliberations

  • the Museum of the Paper makers Canson and Montgolfier, recalls the history of the artisanal manufacture of the Papier. It is the only museum to present an animated paper machine life size.

  • the municipal Museum vivarois César Filhol, presents the local Ethnologie, of the collections and recall the history of the inventions of the local researchers of which Montgolfier and Seguin.

Specialities

Animations

Each year
  • In February:
the International festival of the first film : Official site

  • In June:

the festival of the Montgolfier , 1st weekend of the month.

  • In November:

Delicacies of Ardeche , 3rd weekend of the month. They are organized by the association of the same name. The one weekend time, the place of Cordeliers becomes the window of the products ardéchois. An about sixty exhibitors and much animations rythment this demonstration.

and the

See too

  • Common of Ardeche

External bonds

  • Official site of the town of Annonay ****
  • Museum of the paper makers Canson and Montgolfier.
  • Chamber of commerce and of Industry
  • community of communes of the Basin of Annonay

To see

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