Privas

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Privas
Privas
Location within Rhône-Alpes region  Privas
Administration
Country	France
Region	Rhône-Alpes
Department	Ardèche
Arrondissement	Privas
Canton	Privas
Intercommunality	Privas Rhône et Vallées
Mayor	Yves Chastan (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	200–750 m (660–2,460 ft) (avg. 294 m or 965 ft)
Land area1	12.14 km2 (4.69 sq mi)
Population2	8,552  (2008)
- Density	704 /km2 (1,820 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	07186/ 07000
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.

Coordinates: 44°44′09″N 4°35′49″E / 44.7358°N 4.597°E / 44.7358; 4.597

Privas is a commune of France, capital of the Ardèche department. It is the second-smallest administrative center of any department in France, larger than only the commune of Foix. It is the fifth-largest commune in the Ardèche, behind Annonay, Aubenas, Guilherand-Granges, and Tournon-sur-Rhône. It was the location of the 1629 Siege of Privas. today Privas is known for the puree made from the local chestnuts, and for its sweetened marron glacé.

History

The earliest traces of the commune are attested in the hamlet of Lac where recent archaeological excavations have revealed a Roman villa dating to the beginning of the Empire, as well as a medieval burying-ground. Moulds for counterfeiting coinage found in the 19th century on the slopes of Mont-Toulon had not been interpretable as signifying a local centre of population.

The earliest bourg of Privas developed around the church of Saint-Thomas (place de la République), a dependency of the Cluniac priory of Rompon. The château (castri) of Privas on the site of the present collège-couvent des Récollets is not attested prior to the 13th century, when the town was walled. Laid waste in 1621 and again following the siege of 1629, nothing of it remains.

In the twelfth century Privas belonged to the seigeurie of the Poitiers-Valentinois, comtes de Valence, whose liege lords were the counts of Toulouse. Aymar de Poitiers, in 1281, and his son in 1309, granted charters to the town, guaranteeing its traditional liberties, and its fiscal, economic and military rights.

In the 13th century the town expanded from two originals centres, Bize and Clastre, to develop on the level towards the east, in two new quarters, Claux and Mazel.

In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation took swift and deep roots in Privas, among common people, the high bourgeoisie and the nobles alike. Fierce repression was organized: many Protestant inhabitants were killed, and others fled to Geneva. Nevertheless, the reform movement spread, and for nearly seventy years no Catholic mass was said at Privas, where the church itself was demolished in 1570 and the French garrison refused entry. There were no Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacres at Privas.

Though the king's mistress Diane de Poitiers was made baronne of Chalencon and of Privas, and in 1566 the barony was divided between her two daughters, the elder retaining the honour of Privas, in the French Wars of Religion Privas remained a major centre of Huguenots, called the "Rampart of Reform", and the "Geneva of the country", a symbol of resistance to the Catholic monarchy. The seigneurie was sold to Jacques de Chambaud, a head of the Protestants, who became the first Huguenot seigneur of Privas.

In the Huguenot rebellions of 1621–29, Privas was besieged in 1629 by royal forces, with Louis XIII in attendance. Defended by Montbrun with 800 men, the city was taken and destroyed.

In 1790, with the reordering of the French Revolution, Privas, in alternation with Annonay, Aubenas, Bourg-Saint-Andéol and Tournon-sur-Rhône, became an administrative centre of Ardèche. After a brief interval as chef-lieu of its district, it was attached to the district of Coiron.

Population

Personalities

It is the birthplace of French footballer Cyril Théréau.

Twin towns

Privas is twinned with:

• Tortona, Italy
• Weilburg, Germany
• Wetherby, United Kingdom
• Zevenaar, Netherlands

See also

• Communes of the Ardèche department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Official website (French)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Privas

v t e Communes of the Ardèche department Accons Ailhon Aizac Ajoux Alba-la-Romaine Albon-d'Ardèche Alboussière Alissas Andance Annonay Antraigues-sur-Volane Arcens Ardoix Arlebosc Arras-sur-Rhône Asperjoc Les Assions Astet Aubenas Aubignas Baix Balazuc Banne Barnas Le Béage Beauchastel Beaulieu Beaumont Beauvène Berrias-et-Casteljau Berzème Bessas Bidon Boffres Bogy Borée Borne Boucieu-le-Roi Boulieu-lès-Annonay Bourg-Saint-Andéol Bozas Brossainc Burzet Cellier-du-Luc Chalencon Le Chambon Chambonas Champagne Champis Chandolas Chanéac Charmes-sur-Rhône Charnas Chassiers Châteaubourg Châteauneuf-de-Vernoux Chauzon Chazeaux Cheminas Le Cheylard Chirols Chomérac Colombier-le-Cardinal Colombier-le-Jeune Colombier-le-Vieux Cornas Coucouron Coux Le Crestet Creysseilles Cros-de-Géorand Cruas Darbres Davézieux Désaignes Devesset Dompnac Dornas Dunière-sur-Eyrieux Eclassan Empurany Étables Fabras Faugères Félines Flaviac Fons Freyssenet Genestelle Gilhac-et-Bruzac Gilhoc-sur-Ormèze Gluiras Glun Gourdon Gras Gravières Grospierres Guilherand-Granges Intres Issamoulenc Issanlas Issarlès Jaujac Jaunac Joannas Joyeuse Juvinas Labastide-de-Virac Labastide-sur-Bésorgues Labatie-d'Andaure Labeaume Labégude Lablachère Laboule Le Lac-d'Issarlès Lachamp-Raphaël Lachapelle-Graillouse Lachapelle-sous-Aubenas Lachapelle-sous-Chanéac Lafarre Lagorce Lalevade-d'Ardèche Lalouvesc Lamastre Lanarce Lanas Largentière Larnas Laurac-en-Vivarais Laval-d'Aurelle Laveyrune Lavillatte Lavilledieu Laviolle Lemps Lentillères Lespéron Limony Loubaresse Lussas Lyas Malarce-sur-la-Thines Malbosc Marcols-les-Eaux Mariac Mars Mauves Mayres Mazan-l'Abbaye Mercuer Meyras Meysse Mézilhac Mirabel Monestier Montpezat-sous-Bauzon Montréal Montselgues Nonières Nozières Les Ollières-sur-Eyrieux Orgnac-l'Aven Ozon Pailharès Payzac Peaugres Péreyres Peyraud Le Plagnal Planzolles Plats Pont-de-Labeaume Pourchères Le Pouzin Prades Pradons Pranles Préaux Privas Prunet Quintenas Ribes Rochecolombe Rochemaure Rochepaule Rocher Rochessauve La Rochette Rocles Roiffieux Rompon Rosières Le Roux Ruoms Sablières Sagnes-et-Goudoulet Saint-Agrève Saint-Alban-Auriolles Saint-Alban-d'Ay Saint-Alban-en-Montagne Saint-Andéol-de-Berg Saint-Andéol-de-Fourchades Saint-Andéol-de-Vals Saint-André-de-Cruzières Saint-André-en-Vivarais Saint-André-Lachamp Saint-Apollinaire-de-Rias Saint-Barthélemy-Grozon Saint-Barthélemy-le-Meil Saint-Barthélemy-le-Plain Saint-Basile Saint-Bauzile Saint-Christol Saint-Cierge-la-Serre Saint-Cierge-sous-le-Cheylard Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades Saint-Cirgues-en-Montagne Saint-Clair Saint-Clément Saint-Cyr Saint-Désirat Saint-Didier-sous-Aubenas Sainte-Eulalie Sainte-Marguerite-Lafigère Saint-Étienne-de-Boulogne Saint-Étienne-de-Fontbellon Saint-Étienne-de-Lugdarès Saint-Étienne-de-Serre Saint-Étienne-de-Valoux Saint-Félicien Saint-Fortunat-sur-Eyrieux Saint-Genest-de-Beauzon Saint-Genest-Lachamp Saint-Georges-les-Bains Saint-Germain Saint-Gineis-en-Coiron Saint-Jacques-d'Atticieux Saint-Jean-Chambre Saint-Jean-de-Muzols Saint-Jean-le-Centenier Saint-Jean-Roure Saint-Jeure-d'Andaure Saint-Jeure-d'Ay Saint-Joseph-des-Bancs Saint-Julien-Boutières Saint-Julien-du-Gua Saint-Julien-du-Serre Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban Saint-Julien-Labrousse Saint-Julien-le-Roux Saint-Julien-Vocance Saint-Just Saint-Lager-Bressac Saint-Laurent-du-Pape Saint-Laurent-les-Bains Saint-Laurent-sous-Coiron Saint-Marcel-d'Ardèche Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay Saint-Martial Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche Saint-Martin-de-Valamas Saint-Martin-sur-Lavezon Saint-Maurice-d'Ardèche Saint-Maurice-d'Ibie Saint-Maurice-en-Chalencon Saint-Mélany Saint-Michel-d'Aurance Saint-Michel-de-Boulogne Saint-Michel-de-Chabrillanoux Saint-Montan Saint-Paul-le-Jeune Saint-Péray Saint-Pierre-de-Colombier Saint-Pierre-la-Roche Saint-Pierre-Saint-Jean Saint-Pierre-sur-Doux Saint-Pierreville Saint-Pons Saint-Priest Saint-Privat Saint-Prix Saint-Remèze Saint-Romain-d'Ay Saint-Romain-de-Lerps Saint-Sauveur-de-Cruzières Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut Saint-Sernin Saint-Sylvestre Saint-Symphorien-de-Mahun Saint-Symphorien-sous-Chomérac Saint-Thomé Saint-Victor Saint-Vincent-de-Barrès Saint-Vincent-de-Durfort Salavas Les Salelles Sampzon Sanilhac Sarras Satillieu Savas Sceautres Sécheras Serrières Silhac La Souche Soyons Talencieux Tauriers Le Teil Thorrenc Thueyts Toulaud Tournon-sur-Rhône Ucel Usclades-et-Rieutord Uzer Vagnas Valgorge Vallon-Pont-d'Arc Vals-les-Bains Valvignères Vanosc Les Vans Vaudevant Vernon Vernosc-lès-Annonay Vernoux-en-Vivarais Vesseaux Veyras Villeneuve-de-Berg Villevocance Vinezac Vinzieux Vion Viviers Vocance Vogüé La Voulte-sur-Rhône