Riom

Encyclopedia : R : RI : RIO : Riom

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Riom is a historic city in the Auvergne région of France. It is a commune and sous-préfecture of the Puy-de-Dôme département.

History

Until the French Revolution, Riom was the capital of the province of Auvergne, and the seat of the dukes of Auvergne. The city was of Gaulish origin, the Roman Ricomagus. In the intensely feudalized Auvergne of the 10th century, the town grew up around the collegiate Church of Saint Amable, the local saint, who was the object of pilgrimages. Riom was the capital of the dukes of Auvergne. In the 14th century the city benefitted from the patronage of the Jean, duc de Berry, who rebuilt the Ducal Palace and the Saint-Chapelle. In 1531, Riom and the Auvergne reverted to the Crown of France.

In 1942 Riom was the site of the Vichy government's abortive war-guilt trials. See [fr] for further information.

Sights

In 1985 Riom received the French classification of Ville d'Art et d'Histoire recognizing its sixteen classified historical monuments as well as another 57 on the supplementary listings. Several 17th- and 18th-century private houses (hôtels particuliers) are open to the public with collections of costumes and works of decorative art.

Riom's two major public squares are Place Jean-Baptiste Laurent and Place du pré-Madame in which stand two large fountains in homage to Desaix.

Miscellaneous

Births

Riom was the birthplace of:

• Pierre Victor, baron Malouet (1740-1814), publicist and politician
• Gilbert Romme (1750-1795), politician

Twin towns

• Algemesi, Spain
• Nördlingen, Germany
• Viana do Castelo, Portugal
• West Sussex, England
• Zywiec, Poland

External links

• [Riom] - Official site for the city of Riom (in French).
• [Riom Tourism] - Official site from the Auvergne Office de Tourisme.
• [Joan of Arc's letter to Riom] - Translation by Allen Williamson of a letter dictated by Joan of Arc to the people of Riom on November 9, 1429.
• [The Musée de Veygoux] is a museum in the Manoir de Veygoux dedicated to the French Revolution and Desaix.
• [The Riom trials of 1942, from a Marxist perspective]

 

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