Billom

Billom is a French town in the Auvergne region in the Puy -de- Dôme in the arrondissement of Clermont -Ferrand and the capital of Canton Billom.

The city is located 25 km from Clermont- Ferrand to 345-563 meters above sea level. Its population is 4632 (as of January 1, 2011 ), the community area 17 square kilometers. The town is crossed by Angaud.

History

Billom, the Billiomagus of the Gauls, as is the ancient capital of Limagne one of the oldest cities in the Auvergne, the Merovingians had a palace and a coin. Since the Middle Ages there was a well-known university, which was converted in 1556 under the bishop of Clermont by the Jesuit Edmond Auger in a no less famous Jesuitencolleg; here studied, for example, the Indian missionary and Jesuit Claude Allouez (* 1622; 1689). The economic power of Billoms was characterized until the recent time in the production of fabrics, yarns, lace and Fayencewaren. Billom has Ecole ( school) de Musique Intercommunale. It is also known the garlic growing around Billom.

Attractions

See also: List of Monuments historiques in Billom

• Medieval character of the Old Town ( " ville close" with their half-timbered buildings, 15.ff. century)
• Gothic three-aisled collegiate church of Saint - Cerneuf ( = hl. Serenus / Sirenatus ), in the 13th/14th. Built century, remodeled in the 19th century, with a Romanesque crypt. Kingdom come, including: Pieta in the crypt, Romanesque Marie statutes in the southeast grown Chapel of Aycelin family, choir screen of the 13th century, figural group of Lamentation of the 15th century, various paintings.
• Church of Saint- Loup ( 14-15. Century)
• Remnants of the fortification of the 12th century
• Hexagonal bell tower and the Town Hall from the 16th century
• Pont du Marché, also called the Pont Notre -Dame ( 15th century )

Sons and daughters of the town

• Hugues Aycelin (* 1230, † 1297 ), here -born theologian and cardinal
• Georges Bataille (1897-1962), born writers here