Department Ain Canton Belley Area 22.42 km² Local time Thursday 4:03 PM | Arrondissement Belley Population 8,761 (2011) | |
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Weather 12°C, Wind W at 3 km/h, 60% Humidity | ||
Belley ([bɛlɛ], Arpitan: Bèlê) is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.
Contents
Map of 01300 Belley, France
History
Belley is of Roman origin, and in the 5th century became an episcopal see. It was the capital of the province of Bugey, which was a dependency of Savoy till 1601, when it was ceded to France. In 1385 the town was almost entirely destroyed by an act of incendiarism, but was subsequently rebuilt by the dukes of Savoy, who surrounded it with ramparts of which little is left.
Belley was the birthplace of the epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.
Ecclesiastical history
Belley was the seat of the Bishop of Belley and the location of Belley Cathedral. Belley is the home region of St. Peter Chanel, the famous 19th-century Marist missionary matryr and proto-martyr of Oceania.
Economy
The town is famed for its cheese, la Tome de Belley, also known as Chevret or still "Le pavé d'Affinois". It is also at the centre of the Bugey wine region. It is also home to a sizeable Volvo production unit producing compact excavators, Comatel and Ciat.