La Roche-sur-Yon
Encyclopedia
La Roche-sur-Yon is a commune
in the Vendée
department in the Pays de la Loire
region
in western France.
It is the capital of the department. Its inhabitants are called Yonnais.
had chosen the site as the new préfecture of the Vendée
on 25 May 1804, replacing Fontenay-le-Comte
(then under its revolutionary name of Fontenay-le-Peuple). At the time, most of La Roche had been eradicated in the Vendée Revolt (1793–96); the renamed Napoléonville was laid out and a fresh population of soldiers and civil servants was brought in. Napoléonville was designed to accommodate 15,000 people. In 1854, La Roche was described in an English guide as "the dullest town in France".
The town was called successively:
"La Roche-sur-Yon Agglomération" contains 15 communes:
La Roche-sur-Yon is the chief town of the Arrondissement of La Roche-sur-Yon
, which covers 11 cantons, 92 communes, and has a population of 230,386 (1999 census).
La-Roche-sur-Yon is chief town of two cantons, covering 12 communes, with a total population of 70,709.
railway station offers connections to Nantes, Paris, Les Sables-d'Olonne, Bordeaux and several regional destinations. The A87
motorway connects La Roche-sur-Yon with Les Sables-d'Olonne and Angers, the A83
with Nantes and Niort.
, Germany Coleraine
, United Kingdom Drummondville, Canada Cáceres
, Spain, since 1982 Tizi Ouzou
, Algeria, since 1989 Burg bei Magdeburg
, Germany, since 2005 Afantou
, Greece
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
department in the Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire is one of the 27 regions of France. It is one of the regions created in the late 20th century to serve as a zone of influence for its capital, Nantes, one of a handful so-called "balancing metropolises" ¹...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in western France.
It is the capital of the department. Its inhabitants are called Yonnais.
History
The town expanded significantly after Napoleon INapoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
had chosen the site as the new préfecture of the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
on 25 May 1804, replacing Fontenay-le-Comte
Fontenay-le-Comte
Fontenay-le-Comte is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:The Vendée River flows though the town. The town has an area of .-History:...
(then under its revolutionary name of Fontenay-le-Peuple). At the time, most of La Roche had been eradicated in the Vendée Revolt (1793–96); the renamed Napoléonville was laid out and a fresh population of soldiers and civil servants was brought in. Napoléonville was designed to accommodate 15,000 people. In 1854, La Roche was described in an English guide as "the dullest town in France".
The town was called successively:
- La Roche-sur-Yon (during the Ancien Régime and the French First RepublicFrench First RepublicThe French First Republic was founded on 22 September 1792, by the newly established National Convention. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First French Empire in 1804 under Napoleon I...
) - Napoléon-sur-Yon (during the First French EmpireFirst French EmpireThe First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
) - Bourbon-Vendée (during the French Restoration)
- Napoléon-Vendée (during the French Second Empire)
Administration
The Communauté d'AgglomérationCommunauté d'agglomération
An agglomeration community is a metropolitan government structure in France, created by the Chevènement Law of 1999. It is one of three forms of intercommunality, less integrated than an urban community but more integrated than a community of communes...
"La Roche-sur-Yon Agglomération" contains 15 communes:
- AubignyAubigny, VendéeAubigny is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
- Chaillé-sous-les-OrmeauxChaillé-sous-les-OrmeauxChaillé-sous-les-Ormeaux is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The village lies above the right bank of the river Yon, which forms most of the commune's eastern border.-References:*...
- La Chaize-le-VicomteLa Chaize-le-VicomteLa Chaize-le-Vicomte is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
- Les ClouzeauxLes ClouzeauxLe Champ-Saint-Père is a commune of the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
- Dompierre-sur-YonDompierre-sur-YonDompierre-sur-Yon is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
- La FerrièreLa Ferrière, VendéeLa Ferrière, Vendée is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
- FougeréFougeré, VendéeFougeré is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
- LanderondeLanderondeLanderonde is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
- Mouilleron-le-CaptifMouilleron-le-CaptifMouilleron-le-Captif is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
- NesmyNesmyNesmy is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.It is located from the Atlantic Ocean and from La Roche-sur-Yon.-Sights and culture:Nesmy is famous for its potteries and tileries, an artisanal tradition....
- La Roche-sur-Yon
- Saint-Florent-des-BoisSaint-Florent-des-BoisSaint-Florent-des-Bois is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.It is located on the periphery of La Roche-sur-Yon.-Twin towns:...
- Le TablierLe TablierLe Tablier is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
- ThorignyThorignyThorigny is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
- VenansaultVenansaultVenansault is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
La Roche-sur-Yon is the chief town of the Arrondissement of La Roche-sur-Yon
Arrondissement of La Roche-sur-Yon
The arrondissement of La Roche-sur-Yon is an arrondissement of France, located in the Vendée département, in the Pays de la Loire région...
, which covers 11 cantons, 92 communes, and has a population of 230,386 (1999 census).
La-Roche-sur-Yon is chief town of two cantons, covering 12 communes, with a total population of 70,709.
- The canton of La Roche-sur-Yon-Nord (North) is made of part of La Roche-sur-Yon and of the communes of Mouilleron-le-CaptifMouilleron-le-CaptifMouilleron-le-Captif is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
and VenansaultVenansaultVenansault is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
(29,789) (42.2%); - The canton of the La Roche-sur-Yon-Sud (South) is made of part of Roche-sur-Yon and of the communes of AubignyAubigny, VendéeAubigny is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, Chaillé-sous-les-OrmeauxChaillé-sous-les-OrmeauxChaillé-sous-les-Ormeaux is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The village lies above the right bank of the river Yon, which forms most of the commune's eastern border.-References:*...
, La Chaize-le-VicomteLa Chaize-le-VicomteLa Chaize-le-Vicomte is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, Les ClouzeauxLes ClouzeauxLe Champ-Saint-Père is a commune of the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, FougeréFougeréFougeré is the name of the following communes in France:* Fougeré, Maine-et-Loire, in the Maine-et-Loire department* Fougeré, Vendée, in the Vendée department...
, NesmyNesmyNesmy is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.It is located from the Atlantic Ocean and from La Roche-sur-Yon.-Sights and culture:Nesmy is famous for its potteries and tileries, an artisanal tradition....
, Saint-Florent-des-BoisSaint-Florent-des-BoisSaint-Florent-des-Bois is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.It is located on the periphery of La Roche-sur-Yon.-Twin towns:...
, Le TablierLe TablierLe Tablier is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
and ThorignyThorignyThorigny is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
(40,920) (57.9%).
- Cantons: seat of 2 cantons (12 communes,70,709 inhabitants)
- Population with double accounts(1999): 52,947 inhabitants
- Population without double accounts (1999): 49,262 inhabitants
- Intercommunality (2004): Communauté d'Agglomération 79,665 inhabitants
Transport
The Gare de La Roche-sur-YonGare de La Roche-sur-Yon
Gare de La Roche-sur-Yon is a railway station serving the town La Roche-sur-Yon, Vendée department, western France.-Services:The following services currently call at La Roche-sur-Yon:...
railway station offers connections to Nantes, Paris, Les Sables-d'Olonne, Bordeaux and several regional destinations. The A87
A87 autoroute
The A87 autoroute is a motorway in western France. It connects Angers with the coast and western north-south motorway the A83.-Junctions:*Exchange A87-N260 Junction with the RN260 to Angers and A11.*23 Towns served: Mûrs-Erigné...
motorway connects La Roche-sur-Yon with Les Sables-d'Olonne and Angers, the A83
A83 autoroute
The A83 autoroute is a motorway in France. It is in the departments of Pays-de-la-Loire and Poitou-Charentes operated by ASF. It connects Nantes to Niort via Fontenay-le-Comte. The motorway has a junction with the A10 at Niort which gives access to the north and to Bordeaux connection. The A83...
with Nantes and Niort.
Twin towns
La Roche-sur-Yon is twinned with: GummersbachGummersbach
Gummersbach is a city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, being the district seat of the Oberbergischer Kreis. It is located 50 km east of Cologne. In the past it was nicknamed "the Lime Tree Town", because lime trees lined the main street...
, Germany Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
, United Kingdom Drummondville, Canada Cáceres
Cáceres
- Places :* Cáceres in Spain** Cáceres which covers the province* Cáceres, Spain, the capital of Cáceres Province* Cáceres, Antioquia, municipality in Colombia...
, Spain, since 1982 Tizi Ouzou
Tizi Ouzou
Tizi Ouzou is a city in Kabylia, Algeria, where it ranks second in population after Béjaïa. It is the capital and largest city of Tizi Ouzou Province and of Great Kabylia .-Etymology:The name comes from the Kabylian Berber Tizi n Uzezzu and is pronounced Tizuzzu, commonly...
, Algeria, since 1989 Burg bei Magdeburg
Burg bei Magdeburg
Burg bei Magdeburg is a town of about 24,700 inhabitants on the Elbe-Havel-Canal in Germany, northeast of Magdeburg. It is situated around a former weir, the Sachsenschleusen...
, Germany, since 2005 Afantou
Afantou
Afantou is a village and a former municipality on the island of Rhodes, in the Dodecanese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rhodes, of which it is a municipal unit. It is situated on the east coast of Rhodes just south of the resort town Faliraki. From...
, Greece