Belley
Belley ( arpitanisch Bele ) is a commune with 8761 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011 ) in the department of Ain , in the Rhône -Alpes. It is the seat of the Prefecture of the arrondissement Belley, capital of Canton Belley and seat of the municipal association Bugey Sud.
Geography
Belley is located on the southwestern edge of the Jurassic, about in the middle of the city triangle Lyon -Geneva -Grenoble. To the west of the furan limits the municipal area, east of the center runs the Canal de Dérivation du Rhône, a branching from the Rhône diverting the river that feeds a hydroelectric power plant.
At Belley include the districts Billgnin, Les Ecassaz, Coron and Meuillens.
History
Belley is the historical capital of Bugey ( Pagus Belliceusis ); End of the 10th century it belonged to the Holy Roman Empire, the 11th century was the place under the suzerainty of the Count of Savoy. A great role also played the Bishop of Belley. Anthelme de Chignin, bishop from 1163 to 1178, regarded after his death as a saint of Belley, who was recognized by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa as a prince of the empire, was against Humbert III. of Savoy.
1385 almost the entire city was destroyed by fire. During construction it was surrounded by a city wall. Already in 1536 annexed to 1559, Belley came under King Henry IV by the Treaty of Lyon (signed January 17, 1601 ) finally to France. It was under the Intendance de Bourgogne, but became the seat of a royal bailiwick ( Bailliage ). Under Napoleon I. was Belley sub-prefecture, in 1823 the episcopal resolved during the Revolution, was restored.
Demographics
Personalities
Born in Belley:
- Jean Anthelme Brillat -Savarin (1755-1826), writer
- Benoît Prosper Sibuet (1773-1813), Napoleon's General
- Joseph Recamier (1774-1852), physician
- Charles Millon ( born 1945 ), politician
- Sandrine Bailly ( born 1979 ), athlete
- The poet Alphonse de Lamartine completed part of his school years in Belley
Attractions
- Cathedral Saint- Jean Baptiste