Pérouges

Pérouges
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Coat of arms of Pérouges Coat of arms
Pérouges
Location within Rhône-Alpes region Pérouges
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Ain
Arrondissement	Bourg-en-Bresse
Canton	Meximieux
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Paul Vernay
Area1	18.97 km2 (7.32 sq mi)
Population (2008)2	1,205
• Density	64/km2 (160/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	01290 / 01800
Elevation	205–303 m (673–994 ft) (avg. 270 m or 890 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Pérouges is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France. It is a medieval walled town 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Lyon. It is perched on a small hill that overlooks the plain of the Ain River.

History

Pérouges was inhabited by craftsmen; mainly farmers and linen weavers. It was probably founded by a Gallic colony returning from Perugia in Italy. In 1167, the Seigneur d'Anthon famously shut the commune's walls against the troops of the Archbishop of Lyon, and as early as 1236 the inhabitants earned communal freedom. In 1601 the town officially became French. Until the end of the 18th century, the textile industry in Pérouges boomed. In the 19th century, however, roads and railroads were re-routed and the population dropped from 1,500 to 90. But, starting in 1911, the town was restored and houses were saved. Today, Pérouges is a popular tourist attraction.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1666	500	—
1786	844	+68.8%
1790	1,052	+24.6%
1793	814	−22.6%
1800	898	+10.3%
1806	821	−8.6%
1821	873	+6.3%
1831	843	−3.4%
1836	834	−1.1%
1841	902	+8.2%
1846	899	−0.3%
1851	920	+2.3%
1856	919	−0.1%
1861	901	−2.0%
1866	890	−1.2%
1872	806	−9.4%
1876	801	−0.6%
1881	726	−9.4%
1886	706	−2.8%
1891	665	−5.8%
1896	599	−9.9%
1901	538	−10.2%
1906	536	−0.4%
1911	483	−9.9%
1921	364	−24.6%
1926	427	+17.3%
1931	429	+0.5%
1936	447	+4.2%
1946	447	+0.0%
1954	456	+2.0%
1962	474	+3.9%
1968	489	+3.2%
1975	531	+8.6%
1982	658	+23.9%
1990	851	+29.3%
1999	1,103	+29.6%
2008	1,205	+9.2%

Films set in Pérouges

Given its authentic historical appearance, Pérouges is often used as the setting for period films by French directors and others.

Films set in Pérouges are:

• Monsieur Vincent Fr:(1947)
• Les trois mousquetaires Fr:(1961)
• Mandrin
• Fanfan la Tulipe Fr:(1962)
• The Bride Br:(1985)
• The Hour of the Pig Br:(1993)

Cultural events

A spring festival has been held annually between April and June and hosts musical events ranging from Baroque to jazz.

Gallery

• Pérouges.Eglise.01.001.JPG

  The Church

• Eglise Pérouges Intérieur 001.JPG

  The interior of the Church

• Pérouges.Tour.01.JPG

  The Defensive Tower

• Place de la halle de Pérouges 01.JPG

  The Central Square

• Rue du prince Pérouges 01.JPG

  A street (rue des Princes)

• Casertavecchia.jpg

  Pérouges at night

• Perouges sundial 1274.JPG

  The Sundial of Pérouges

See also

• Communes of the Ain department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Official website (English) (French)
• INSEE commune file
• Perouges Preservation Committee - Museum, Watch Tower, Garden and House of Princes visits with Contemporary Art exhibitions (English) (French)