Annonay (; ) is a commune and largest town in the north of the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It is the most populous commune in the Ardèche department although it is not the capital which is the smaller town of Privas. Other communes in the Ardèche department are Aubenas, Guilherand-Granges, and Tournon-sur-Rhône.

Geography

The commune consists of the city of Annonay and the hamlets of Vissenty, Chatinais, and Boucieu. With residential development, these four entities have merged into one today. Further away is the hamlet of Toissieu.

Annonay was built over several small hills at the confluence of the rivers Cance (Canse) and Deûme (Deôme). Annonay is a crossroads of trade routes: from the Rhône Valley to the region of Saint-Étienne (east-west) and from Lyon to south of the Massif Central (north-south). It is located south of Lyon, south-west of Saint-Rambert-d'Albon, and north-west of Saint-Vallier at the foot of the mountains of Vivarais just west of the river Rhône. Access to the commune is by the D121 from Davezieux in the north-east passing through the commune and the city and continuing to Villevocance in the south-west. There is also the D578 from the city to Quintenas in the south and the D206 to Saint-Marcel-les-Annonay in the north. There are also the D371 and the D370 in the east of the commune.

The geology consists mainly of grey or light orange leucogranite and orthogneiss rich in biotite, sillimanite, and cordierite with alternating bands of felsic and mafic material. The escarpment of Annonay is surrounded by plateaux and gentle hills used for cultivating cherries, apricots, apples, pears, and other crops. A reservoir created by damming the Ternay River north-west of the town provides water for industrial and domestic use. The highest point of the town at is located near a place called "Sagne Ronde"; the lowest point at is the bed of the Cance near the ruins of the "Mill Baru". The Montmiandon overlooking the city, rises to above sea level.

Distribution of age groups

The age distribution of the population of the town is similar to the average for the department.

Percentage distribution of age groups in Annonay and Ardèche Department in 2017

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|-

! !! colspan=2 | Annonay !! colspan=2 | Ardèche

|-

! Age Range !! Men !! Women !! Men !! Women

|-

| 0 to 14 Years || 18.3 || 14.8 || 17.7 || 16.1

|-

| 15 to 29 Years || 16.7 || 16.4 || 14.4 || 13.0

|-

| 30 to 44 Years || 16.8 || 15.8 || 17.3 || 16.9

|-

| 45 to 59 Years || 20.4 || 17.6 || 21.6 || 20.7

|-

| 60 to 74 Years || 17.7 || 19.3 || 19.7 || 19.7

|-

| 75 to 89 Years || 8.9 || 12.8 || 8.5 || 11.2

|-

| 90 Years+ || 1.3 || 3.2 || 0.9 || 2.4

|}

Source: INSEE

Economy

Annonay has a strong industrial tradition, originally powered by the water flowing through the deep gorges around the town. In the 19th century, it was connected to the Paris-Lyon Railway and was famed for the best paper in France. It also produced glove leather and cotton, woolen, and silk goods. A modern dam was constructed across the Ternay, an affluent of the Deûme northwest of town, which expanded the power available to local factories. By the First World War, the leather industry had become predominant, while the economy expanded to include more raw silk, flour, chemical manures, glue, gelatine, brushes, chocolates, and candles. Although the leather industry has since declined, the Tannerie d'Annonay ("Annonay Tannery") continues the tradition under the Grison brand.

Irisbus (a Renault Vehicles Industries and Fiat Iveco joint venture) builds buses and is the largest single employer with around 2,000 staff with several associated businesses.

The multinational paper company Arjo Wiggins subsidiary Papeteries Canson et Montgolfier SA, which dates back to 1557 owns three of the several paper factories in the town.

Other industries in or close to the town include plastics, textiles, and pharmaceutical companies including Ciba, Aguettant and Tetra Médical.

There are a number of vineyards near the town.

The average salary in the area is 23,300 euro.

Transport

Air

The nearest airport is Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport, which is located north east of Annonay.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The Montgolfier brothers

thumb|"The Montgolfier brothers"

  • A Statue of the brothers Joseph and Etienne de Montgolfier located in the Place de Liberation. A work by the sculptor Henri Cordier, it was inaugurated on 5 June 1888.
  • The Pyramid stone obelisk, the work of Étienne-François Imbard located on the Boulevard de la République. Built between 1819 and 1822, it commemorates the first ballooning experience of the Montgolfier brothers.
  • The Montgolfier-Canson Paper Mill (18th century) is registered as an historical monument.

Marc Seguin

thumb|Statue of Marc Seguin

  • A Monument to Marc Seguin, Place de la Liberté ( 1923 ). This bronze statue, the work of François Clémencin, was removed by the German army in 1942 then was replaced by a statue by the same sculptor which was inaugurated on 1 June 1947.

Boissy d'Anglas

  • A Statue of François-Antoine de Boissy d'Anglas located at the Champ de Mars. The work of the sculptor Pierre Hébert, it was inaugurated on 5 October 1862. The base is decorated with a bas-relief bronze (also the work of Pierre Hébert) representing the meeting on 1 Prairial Year III of the National Convention. displayed in the wedding hall of the Town Hall.

Fountains

thumb|Jean-Baptiste Béchetoille fountain

  • The Jean-Baptiste Béchetoille fountain (1900). The work of the architect Millefaud.
  • The La Vanaude House at 33 Avenue Marc-Seguin (1930) is registered as an historical monument. It is the work of the architects Hugues Gosselin and Maurice Frappa.
  • The César Filhol Museum in Rue Bechetoille (1700), formerly the royal bailiwick house. The museum contains two items that are registered as historical objects:
  • A Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (16th century)
  • A Statue: Christ (17th century) possibly by Veyrines.
  • The Place Mayol (16th century) with a door of glazing beads.
  • The Château of Déomas (1876) illustration of the "Sun Belt of Annonay".
  • Substantial remains of the railway line between Firminy, Bourg-Argental, and Saint-Rambert-d'Albon:
  • Vidalon Tunnel, a passage on a ledge above the Deûme (covered in vegetation in 2013);
  • Retaining walls with characteristic stone-setting of the "Station district" (in the Place de la Gare in Annonay); Sacré-Cœur tunnel;
  • the Vissenty cutting.

Religious heritage

thumb|Church in the hamlet of Toissieu

  • The Church Our Lady of the Assumption, in the neo-Byzantine Roman style, built between 1904 and 1912. Its bell tower contains a Carillon of five bells with a weight more than . It replaced a church of the same patronage located on the Place de la Liberté. The work of the architects Rey, Allengry, and Joly. Its interior decoration (paste paintings) is inspired by the Litanies of the Blessed Virgin, the Litany of Loreto, the Bible, hagiography, and the history of Annonay. Consecrated in 1954, it contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
  • 2 Statues: Adoring Angels (18th century)
  • A Statue: Virgin and child (18th century)
  • A Gallery Organ (1880) signed Cavaillé-Coll.
  • A Choir Organ (1848)
  • 2 Statues: Acolyte Angels (17th century)
  • 2 Statues: Cherubs (17th century)
  • A Bust-Reliquary: Saint John of the Cross (17th century)
  • A Bust-Reliquary: Saint Peter of Alcantara (17th century)
  • The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, in neo-Gothic style (1863–1866).
  • 2 Apothecary Jars (19th century)
  • A Venetian Wall lamp mirror (18th century)
  • A Chest of Drawers with diamond corners (18th century)
  • A Painting: Christ on the Cross (17th century)
  • A Painting: The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian (17th century)
  • A Painting with gold frame: Pope Clement VI (18th century)
  • A Painting with gold frame: Saint Jerome (17th century)
  • A Painting with gold frame: Adoration of the Trinity (17th century)
  • 24 Apothecary Jars (19th century)
  • A Mortar and pestle (1654)
  • A Mortar and pestle with chopping block (13th century)
  • The Chapel of the Convent of Saint Mary (1633) is registered as an historical monument. The convent was built on the foundations of a castle called Malatour in 1630 with the Chapel built later in 1633. The chapel contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
  • A Triptyche: 3 paintings of the life of Saint Francis Regis (1888)
  • A Retable (17th century)
  • A framed Painting: Raphael Sara and Tobie (17th century)
  • Wood panelling and Paintings (17th century)

thumb|Madonna on the Saint-Denis rocks

  • The Vierge des Fouines Statue (Nosy Virgin Statue) or Our Lady of Faith Statue placed on the rocks of Saint-Denis. 5.22 metres tall and the work of Bachini from Lyon. It was blessed on 26 September 1943. The chapel contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
  • A Decorative ceiling painting (19th century)
  • A Bust of Saint François-de-Sales (17th century)
  • A Painting: the Nativity of the Virgin (18th century)
  • A Painting: Saints Jacques and Philippe (1658)
  • A Statue: Virgin and child (18th century)
  • The Chapel of Vidalon-les-Annonay contains a Gallery Organ (1818) that is registered as an historical object.
  • The former Chapel of Saint-Clair in Rue Sadi Carnot (14th century) is registered as an historical monument. It was built in Gothic style from 1348 to 1356.
  • The Cemetery chapel at Toissieu.

Military Heritage

  • The War Memorial (1914–1918, 1939–1945, and subsequent wars). Designed by architect Maurice Luquet, the statues The pensive soldier and The Stricken Woman were sculpted by Paul Landowski. It was inaugurated on 25 June 1922.
  • Jean-Pierre Mocky used the town as the setting for his film Litan (1982).
  • The 2003 part-British funded movie L'homme du train (The Man on the Train) was filmed in Annonay.

Culinary specialities

  • Angel wings (Bugnes)
  • Pantins
  • Pogne of Annonay

Local press

The regional newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré is available in Annonay. It also hosts the headquarters of the weekly Le Reveil du Vivarais. Another weekly L'Hebdo de l'Ardèche also covers the territory. Since the early 2000s a free monthly made its appearance, L'Indispensable is distributed among traders in the Annonay basin. It informs readers about cultural events taking place around the region.

Festivals

;Each year:

  • In February:
  • The Premier International Festival of Film
  • In June:
  • The Festival of Hot air Ballooning (1st weekend).
  • The Festi'roc 07, a Christian modern music festival, it is organized by the Catholic parishes of the Annonay Basin.
  • In November:
  • The Love of good food of Ardèche and Upper Vivarais, (3rd weekend). This is organized by the association of the same name. During a weekend, the Place des Cordeliers becomes a showcase of Ardèche products. Sixty exhibitors and many activities punctuate this event.
  • The Championship of France for Hot air Ballooning

<gallery>

Hôtel de Ville d'Annonay.jpg|City hall

Annonay (Trachin).jpg|Bell Tower of the Chapel of Trachin

valgelas.jpg |The Valgelas Bridge near the Soubises Vaults and the Place de la Mure

Annonay (Notre Dame).jpg|Church of Our Lady

Annonay, porte ancienne place Grenette.JPG |Old door in the Place Grenette (16th century)

Annonay (St François).jpg|Church of Saint Francis

Chemin des Terres, Annonay, Ardèches, France..JPG|Chemin des Terres

Annonay (chapelle de l'hôpital).jpg|Chapel of the hospital (18th century)

Batisse typique d'Annonay, Ardèche, France..JPG|"Sainte-Barbe" House

chateau_annonay-2.jpg|An overview of Mirecouly Castle, illustration of the "Sun belt"

</gallery>

Historical bibliography

  • François Chomel, Annonay pas à pas, pierre à pierre, Édition du Vivarais, Annonay, 1995, 250 p.
  • Pierre Fanget, Annonay ma ville, Annonay, 1971.
  • Abbé Filhol, Histoire religieuse et civile d'Annonay et du Haut–Vivarais depuis l'origine de cette ville jusqu'à nos jours, Tomes 1, 2, 3 et 4, Moussy ainé, 1882.
  • Emmanuelle Faure, Claude Osset, Annonay, Mémoire en images, Éditions Alan Sutton, Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, 127 pages, 2004.
  • Emmanuelle Faure, Bernard Faure, Claude Osset, Annonay en Fêtes, 1860–2000, Jean Pierre Huguet Editeur, Saint-Julien-Molin-Molette, 2002, 283 p.
  • La Gazette d'Annonay, Hebdomadaire local paraissant entre 1889 et 1944.
  • Antoine Grimaud, Annonay, la vie municipale de 1870 à 1920, Imprimerie Hervé, Annonay, 1926, 540 p.
  • Gaston Grimaud, Mon vieil Annonay, Decombe frères, Annonay, 1948, 48 p.
  • Le Journal d'Annonay, Hebdomadaire local paraissant entre 1865 et 1944.
  • Abbé Léorat Picansel, Annonay pendant la Terreur, Tomes 1 et 2, Amis du Fonds Vivarois, 1988.
  • Rémy Bernard, Histoire d'Annonay et sa région, Horvath, Roanne, 1981, 149 p.
  • Le Réveil du Vivarais et de la vallée du Rhône, Hebdomadaire local paraissant depuis 1944.

See also

  • Communes of the Ardèche department
  • History
  • Parlement of Toulouse
  • Languedoc
  • Estates of Languedoc
  • Vivarais
  • Pays d'états

Notes

References

  • Annonay Official website
  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ardèche
  • Annonay on Lion1906
  • Annonay on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
  • Annonay on the 1750 Cassini Map