Paray-le-Monial
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Apse of the basilica of Paray-le-Monial.
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 Paray-le-Monial
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Location within Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region
Paray-le-Monial
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| Coordinates: 46°27′07″N 4°07′13″E / 46.4519°N 04.1203°ECoordinates: 46°27′07″N 4°07′13″E / 46.4519°N 04.1203°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | |
| Department | Saône-et-Loire | |
| Arrondissement | Charolles | |
| Canton | Paray-le-Monial | |
| Intercommunality | Paray-le-Monial | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2001–2008) | Jean-Marc Nesme | |
| Area1 | 25.20 km2 (9.73 sq mi) | |
| Population (2006)2 | 9,502 | |
| • Density | 380/km2 (980/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 71342 /71600 | |
| Elevation | 234–304 m (768–997 ft) (avg. 245 m or 804 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Paray-le-Monial [pa.ʁɛ.lə.mɔn.jal] is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France.
The river Bourbince flows northwestward through the commune and crosses the town.
Paray (Paredum; Parodium) existed before the monks who gave it its surname of Le Monial, for when Count Lambert of Chalon, together with his wife Adelaide and his friend Mayeul de Cluny, founded there in 973 the celebrated Benedictine priory, the borough had already been constituted, with its ædiles and communal privileges. At that time an ancient temple was dedicated to the Mother of God (Charter of Paray). The Cluny monks were, 999-1789, lords of the town.
The town is mainly known for its Romanesque church of the Sacré-Coeur ("Sacred Heart") and as a place of pilgrimage. It was built from the 12th century as a small-scale version of the Abbey of Cluny. It was finished in the 14th century, while the cloister dates to the 18th century.
The Hôtel de Ville, in Renaissance style, the façade of which is adorned with a large statue of the Blessed Virgin, is also one of the historical monuments.
Another major building in Paray-le-Monial, is Saint Nicolas' tower, built during the 16th century, which hosts different exhibitions but mainly mosaic exhibitions.
The area's primary industry is agriculture in particular dairy farming.
Paray-le-Monial was the birthplace of:
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Wikipedia