Pérouges

Pérouges
region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Ain
Arrondissement	Belley
Canton	Meximieux
Community association	Plaine de l'Ain
Coordinates	45 ° 54 ' N , 5 ° 11' E Coordinates: 45 ° 54 ' N , 5 ° 11' E
height	205-303 m
surface	18.97 km 2
Residents	1,201 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	63 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	01800
INSEE code	01290
Website	www.perouges.org

Pérouges is a French commune with 1201 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Ain department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region .

geography

The municipality of Pérouges is located about 30 kilometers northeast of Lyon and 120 kilometers southwest of Geneva on a hill in the Dombes countryside . In the southeast, the municipality extends close to the Ain River . The place is a tourist attraction because the medieval streets and houses were carefully restored in the early 20th century. That is why the place was classified as one of the Plus beaux villages de France ( Most Beautiful Villages in France ).

history

The name Pérouges suggests that the place was founded by Gallic settlers who had returned to their homeland from the Italian colony of Perugia . In 1167, Seigneur d'Anthon defended the city walls against the Archbishop of Lyon. The village gained communal independence in 1236. In 1601, under Henry IV , the city officially became part of France. The textile industry flourished in the small town until the end of the 18th century. In the 19th century, more and more residents left Pérouges, so that the population dropped from 1,500 to 364 in 1821. The city fell into disrepair. It was not until 1911 that the construction of the city began again, and many houses were restored.

Population development

year	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2007	2017
Residents	474	489	531	658	851	1103	1191	1201

Architectural monuments

See: List of Monuments historiques in Pérouges

Culture

The small village is a regular venue for cultural events such as jousting games or the Le Printemps de Pérouges music festival .

Due to its medieval atmosphere, the place has already served as a backdrop for several films, such as Monsieur Vincent , The Three Musketeers , Mandrin and Fanfan, the Hussar .