Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme | |
|---|---|
 Gaultier Street | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme  | |
  Saint-Valery-sur-Somme  Saint-Valery-sur-Somme | |
| Coordinates: 50°11′20″N 1°37′50″E / 50.1889°N 1.6306°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Hauts-de-France |
| Department | Somme |
| Arrondissement | Abbeville |
| Canton | Abbeville-2 |
| Intercommunality | CA Baie de Somme |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Daniel Chareyron[1] |
| Area 1 | 10.5 km2 (4.1 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 2,394 |
| • Density | 230/km2 (590/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 80721 /80230 |
| Elevation | 1–43 m (3.3–141.1 ft) (avg. 40 m or 130 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme (French pronunciation:
Geography
The commune lies on the
River Somme
The River Somme is canalised, with sea locks at the eastern end of the town. From Saint-Valery-sur-Somme to Abbeville, the Canal de la Somme has been completely straightened, after which it follows a winding course to Amiens and beyond. Although no longer a busy commercial waterway, it gives an attractive and calm introduction to the French canals and the greater European canal network, thereby avoiding the busy ferry ports of Calais and Dunkirk.[3]
Railway
Saint-Valery has a station (and out-of-season terminus) of the narrow gauge "
Places of interest
- The abbey church
- The sea lock, controlling the flow of the Somme river
- The stone tower, where, according to a tradition, Jeanne d'Arcwas detained
- The house where Anatole France resided
History
The history of the commune dates back to before the era of the Roman invasion when it was a small settlement inhabited by Gauls. The Roman invasion encouraged the small hamlet to grow into a small village and after the Romans left France the village soon came under the power of the Franks.
In 611, the monk Gualaric (Walric), also known as
The village grew during the 10th and 11th centuries and was historically significant as the site where William the Conqueror assembled his fleet before sailing to invade England in 1066. During the many wars between the French and the English the village passed between French, English and Burgundian ownership. The English destroyed the abbey and cloister in order to strengthen the nearby St Valery castle. In 1431, Joan of Arc, captive of the English, was held prisoner in the local prison, whence she was then conveyed to Rouen and burnt at the stake. The cell in which she was held can still be found near part of the old village walls.
The commune found peace and prosperity during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. The abbey was rebuilt and still stands today. The activity of the port flourished, thanks to the export of the wines and the growth of the
The commune was popular during the 19th century with artists and writers and Victor Hugo, Jules Verne, Alfred Sisley and Edgar Degas all had villas here at one time or another.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 3,240 | — |
| 1975 | 3,072 | −0.76% |
| 1982 | 2,935 | −0.65% |
| 1990 | 2,769 | −0.73% |
| 1999 | 2,686 | −0.34% |
| 2007 | 2,805 | +0.54% |
| 2012 | 2,703 | −0.74% |
| 2017 | 2,510 | −1.47% |
| Source: INSEE[4] | ||
Economy
Businesses
The traditional fishing sector still exists although in very marked decline.
Commerce, crafts, banking, hotels, restaurants, and other tourist services dominate today's Valerician economy.
The town has a hospital, schools: kindergartens, primary and middle school, as well as the Baie de Somme study station of the University of Picardie Jules-Verne (UPJV).
Harbor
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is a marina and a fishing port.
Fishing is an activity in decline due to the increasing silting up of the bay. The silting forces fishermen to go offshore and leave the bay, which shortens the length of the fishing day. Navigation in the channel is becoming more and more difficult for trawlers.
Sailing is developing more and more and sailboats or motor boats are increasingly replacing fishing boats.
Cultural events
Each July, the city commemorates the departure of William the Conqueror for the conquest of England. This festival is organized by the Association des Fêtes Guillaume le Conquérant, member of the French Federation of Historical Festivals. For two days, street entertainment, stalls, people in costumes, and musicians enliven the old town.
Saint-Valery takes part in the Steam Festival, a railway event unique in Europe due to its scale and organized by the Baie de Somme railway service.
Every year since 2009, a theater festival takes place in the last week of June. Professional artists from all backgrounds come together to offer the public quality shows in the old town, home of artists from all centuries, such as Victor Hugo and Anatole France. It celebrates a festive moment where the public is invited into the flowery streets to follow the actors on the path of the old stones.
See also
- Communes of the Somme department
- Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme
- Réseau des Bains de Mer
International relations
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is
References
- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ISBN 9780749310165
- ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- ^ "British towns twinned with French towns [via WaybackMachine.com]". Archant Community Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
External links
- Commune's official website
- Saint-Valery-sur-Somme on the Quid website (in French)
- St.Valery-sur-Somme in the Werbeka Netshop (in English)
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