Mâcon

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mâcon
Mâcon coat of arms
Mâcon (France)
Mâcon
region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Department Saône-et-Loire ( Prefecture )
Arrondissement Mâcon
Canton Chef-lieu of
Mâcon-1
Mâcon-2
Community association Mâconnais Beaujolais Agglomération
Coordinates 46 ° 18 ′  N , 4 ° 50 ′  E Coordinates: 46 ° 18 ′  N , 4 ° 50 ′  E
height 167-347 m
surface 27.04 km 2
Residents 33,638 (January 1, 2017)
Population density 1,244 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code 71000
INSEE code 71270
Website http://www.macon.fr/

Mâcon, Pont Saint-Laurent

Mâcon [ maˈkõ ] is a French city with 33,638 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) on the Saône , about 60 kilometers north of Lyon . It is prefecture of the department Saône-et-Loire in the region of Bourgogne Franche-Comté .

The surrounding landscape, the Mâconnais , corresponds roughly to the Arrondissement of Mâcon .

history

Antiquity

The city was founded in the 3rd century BC. Founded at a ford of the Saône by the Celtic tribe of the Äduer ( Häduer ) under the name Matisco . The Romans built a fortified castrum here , which made the city grow. It was fortified in the 4th century.

In the 6th century the Franks conquered the area and the city was raised to the status of the diocese of Mâcon in 536 . In 585 the Synod of Mâcon took place.

middle Ages

In the Middle Ages , Louis the Saint bought the county and Mâcon became the headquarters of Burgundy . In the Hundred Years' War Mâcon was heavily damaged. The residents rebuilt the city, which now belonged to Charles the Bold . After his death, Louis XI confirmed . in 1477 the Count of Mâcon was granted city privileges.

16th to 19th century

Due to its location on the Saône River, the city was of strategic importance for French rulers. Charles IX von Chalon, the court of justice, the royal court company, Henry of Navarra (Duke of Anjou ) and cardinals from Bourbon and Lorraine stopped here in the 16th century. Mâcon also hosted Swiss and German mercenaries during the wars of religion .

In September 1602, the place was flooded by prolonged continuous rain.

1790 Macon capital of the newly created department Saône-et-Loire .

In 1814 the city was captured by the Austrian army . French troops were able to regain it for a short time, but in 1815 it was again occupied by the Austrians.

20th century

and display information about the image
Mâcon as seen from the Saône

During the Second World War , Mâcon was part of the Free Zone between Paris and Lyon until 1942 . Then the Wehrmacht occupied the city ​​and the surrounding area; under Jean de Lattre de Tassigny , Mâcon was liberated after the Allies landed in Provence on September 4, 1944.

In 1974 Mâcon received the European Prize donated by the Council of Europe .

coat of arms

Description : Three (2; 1) silver rings in red .

Buildings

  • old St. Vincent Cathedral (first building from the 6th century), demolished in 1799 and rebuilt in its current form on Place St. Vincent
  • St. Vincent's new cathedral on Place Lamartine
  • St. Pierre Church , completed around 1860
  • a wooden house built between 1490 and 1510, adorned with countless carved figures
  • a former Ursuline nuns - monastery from the second half of the 17th century, since 1968 Museum
  • Pont Saint Laurent , a stone bridge over the Saone that dates back to the 11th century. In 1221, the bridge was upgraded to defend the city: in the event of danger, iron chains could be lowered into the river, making the river impassable. In the middle of the 15th century, the bridge was extended by five more arches to divert the course of the river towards Bresse and thereby reduce the risk of floods that regularly hit the city.

Economy and education

Of economic importance are industrial companies (metalworking, printing, manufacture of construction vehicles) and facilities for tourism as well as wine (especially white wine) from the large Mâconnais growing area ; see also Burgundy (wine-growing region) .

  • five colleges , four lycées
  • a teacher training institute
  • a private computer science school
  • Maritime Center
  • Cultural center, library

In the sporting field, the female soccer players of the Racing Club Flacé-lès-Mâcon in particular celebrated national successes in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Twin cities

Personalities

Web links

Commons : Mâcon  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wikivoyage: Mâcon  - travel guide

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Information compiled from the French Wikipedia page and a handout from the cruise company CroisiEurope in June 2012.