Bourg-Saint-Andéol facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Commune
The railway station
Coat of arms
Bourg-Saint-Andéol Location in France Show map of France Bourg-Saint-Andéol Location in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Show map of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Country	France
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Ardèche
Arrondissement	Privas
Canton	Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Area 1	43.74 km2 (16.89 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	7,352
• Density	168.084/km2 (435.34/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	07042 /07700
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Bourg-Saint-Andéol is a town, also known as a commune, in southern France. It is part of the Ardèche area, right next to the Rhône River. This area is called the Rhône Valley. The town has a long history and beautiful natural surroundings. It is a popular place for people to visit and enjoy the French countryside.

Geography of Bourg-Saint-Andéol

Bourg-Saint-Andéol is located right along the Rhône River. It is at the southeastern end of the Ardèche department. The town is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Viviers. It is also about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Pierrelatte, which is across the river in another department called Drôme. About 10 kilometers (6 miles) away is Pont-Saint-Esprit. The famous Ardèche Gorges start about 14 kilometers (9 miles) to the southwest, near Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche.

History of Bourg-Saint-Andéol

The town started as a settlement called Bergoiata. It was built by the Gauls on a rocky hill overlooking the Rhône River. Near the town, you can find an old stone carving of the god Mithras.

The town got its current name from Saint Andeolus. He was an early Christian who came from Asia Minor. He taught Christianity in the area around the year 208 AD. He was martyred, meaning he died for his beliefs. The region was first called Helvia by Julius Caesar. Later, it became known as Vivarais. During the French Revolution, the town was briefly renamed Bourg-sur-Rhône. This was because people wanted to remove names linked to saints. But later, the name Andéol was brought back.

Bourg-Saint-Andéol was once an important center for royal law. The bishop of Viviers even lived in the city for many years during the Renaissance. The town also became very important because of its location on the Rhône River. It was a hub for boatmen, trade, and businesses dealing with leather, fabric, wine, and oil. You can still see many old, grand houses in the town center today. Some parts of the town were damaged during World War II, but the old bridge was replaced.

Economy of Bourg-Saint-Andéol

Bourg-Saint-Andéol serves as a shopping hub for the villages nearby. In the mid-1980s, several factories closed, which made the local economy struggle. Today, many people from Bourg-Saint-Andéol work in Pierrelatte. This town has the Tricastin site, which is one of the first nuclear power plants in France.

Another important part of the local economy is wine. The area is known for its Côtes du Rhône wines. Several other towns around Bourg-Saint-Andéol also produce this wine. Recently, an oil mill was reopened to process olives harvested in the area.

Tourism in Bourg-Saint-Andéol

This area is very popular for tourism and for people who own summer homes. Bourg-Saint-Andéol is known for having a rich cultural heritage in Ardèche. You can find many ancient stone structures called dolmens in the Bois du Laoul forest. There is also a sculpture of Mithra near the Vauclusian springs of the Tourne.

Many old noble houses from the 18th century are used for local events and visitors during the summer. The Bishops' Palace in Bourg-Saint-Andéol is a large and complex building. It was originally a medieval fort and was improved in the 15th and 17th centuries. This palace is a protected historical monument. It also houses the René Margotton museum and faces the Rhône River.

The Bishops' Palace, home to the René Margotton Museum

Population of Bourg-Saint-Andéol

Culture in Bourg-Saint-Andéol

Bourg-Saint-Andéol is home to a special school called the Institut National des Arts du Clown. This is a national institute for the art of clowning.

Twin Cities

Bourg-Saint-Andéol has "twin city" relationships with other towns around the world. This means they share cultural and educational exchanges.

• Monschau in Germany (since 1975)
• Albertirsa in Hungary (since 1998)
• Gaggiano in Italy (since 2002)

See also

In Spanish: Bourg-Saint-Andéol para niños