Saint-Junien

French commune
nomcommune=Saint-Junien


caption=Collegiate church of Saint-Junien
latitude=45.88806
longitude=0.90194
insee=87154
cp=87200
région=Limousin
département=Haute-Vienne
arrondissement=Rochechouart
canton=Saint-Junien-Est / Saint-Junien-Ouest (chief town)
intercomm=CC Vienne Glane
maire=Pierre Allard
mandat=2008-2014
alt mini=157
alt maxi=317 m
area=56.82
sans=10,666
date-sans=1999
dens=188|

Saint-Junien, ( _oc. Sent Junian), is a commune of the Haute-Vienne "département", in France.

History

The history of Saint-Junien begins in AD 500, when an ascetic of Hungarian origin, Saint Amand, chooses to live on the north bank of the Vienne river at a place called Comodoliac.

Ruricius, bishop of Limoges, offered him a humble cell. At this time, Junien, originally from the north of France, son of a Count of Cambrai, leafthis family at 15 years old and becomes a disciple of Saint Amand. It is said that Junien knocked on the door of Amand, who did not answer. Junien had to sleep outside, and the snow miraculously spared him during the night. He then lived as a hermit and, after the passing of his master, he lived where the collegiale church stands nowadays.

In 593, Gregory of Tours was impressed by the size of the pilgrimage to the saint's tomb. An urban area is quickly created around the abbey built in honor of the saint. However, this monastery will be destroyed by the Vikings in 866. By the end of the 13th century, high walls are built around the city.

Demographics

At the 1999 census, the population was formatnum:10666. On 1 January 2007, the estimate was formatnum:11500. Saint-Junien is the second largest town (by population) of the department, after Limoges

Inhabitants are known as "Saint-Juniauds".

ee also

*Communes of the Haute-Vienne department

References

* [http://www.insee.fr/en/home/home_page.asp INSEE] en icon
* [http://www.ign.fr/rubrique.asp?rbr_id=1&lng_id=EN IGN] en icon

External links

* [http://www.mairie-saint-junien.fr/ Official website] fr icon