It is the largest town in thearrondissement of Belley and the seat of thecanton of Ambérieu-en-Bugey which consists of 18 communes. Itsurban area has 17,301 inhabitants (2020).[3] The town was officially simply called Ambérieu until 31 March 1955 when it became Ambérieu-en-Bugey.
The town is in the commune's western part, on the right bank of the riverAlbarine, which forms most of the commune's southern border. It is surrounded by the communes ofSaint-Denis-en-Bugey, andBettant. Its expansion is due to demographic expansion with two new housing areas on the eastern side of the town where there is plenty of land (near Bettant).
Ambérieu-en-Bugey is located at the foot of the western foothills of theJura mountains ofBugey and opens onto the plain ofAin at the mouth of thegorge ofAlbarine.
However, the city contains significant seasonal differences between the warm to hot summers and the cool to cold winters. Both temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) for the summer months and winterair frosts are common.
Its record low of −26.9 °C (−16.4 °F) decisively indicates its continental influence, as well as its record high of 41.2 °C (106.2 °F).
Comparison of local Meteorological data with other cities in France[5]
The commune[9]is at an altitude between 237 m and 753 m.
The sub-soil has been an important economic activity in the Ambérieu region in the 19th century until the first half of the 20th century. For example, the extraction oflignite (used in particular for heating) was an important activity in Ambérieu during theFirst World War.[10]
Ambérieu-en-Bugey reflects the characteristics ofBugey in geological terms: the region is composed of a folded mountain relief, partlykarstified, which is the southern extension of theJura mountains. The dating of thelimestone of Bugey is between theJurassic (for theanticlines) and theCretaceous (for thesynclines). The folds are easily visible in outcrops and cliffs.[11]
There are several rivers in Ambérieu-en-Bugey. Besides theAlbarine which flows through Ambérieu-en-Bugey,[12] two streams which are themselves tributaries of the Albarine flow into the commune: the Seymard (15.5 km long[13] and the Foulon[14] (3.4 km long).
From 1897 to 1951 the town was served by the Tramways of Ain, a metric gauge light railway linking it toCerdon andArs-sur-Formans. Here can be seen the station.Entry toAmbérieu station.The D1504 road and the railway line from Lyon to Geneva
The railway has served the commune since 1856,[15] making the town an important railway junction and the railway station, "one of the largest connection centres in France".[15] Some lines which are now extinct (e.g. the Ambérieu-Montalieu-Vercieu line) created a great deal of rail activity at Ambérieu-en-Bugey; these activities have been illustrated in the collections of the Railway Museum since 1987.
On 7 June 1944 an operation was organized by resistance railway workers andmaquisards to disable 52 locomotives and much other equipment. This action reduced the capacity of this strategic site and reduced the communications of the German army so avoiding bombing by the Allies on the site.[17] A monument near the Ambérieu-en-Bugey station recalls this feat of arms.
Aerial activity has been present in Ambérieu-en-Bugey since the beginning of the 20th century. For example,Antoine de Saint-Exupéry made his first flight in July 1912 at the civil aerodrome of Bellievre.[18]
Ambérieu-en-Bugey Air Base was built during theSecond World War as a temporary airfield by theUnited States Air Force XII Engineer Command in August 1944. Named the "Colonel Chambonnet Base", today it is a supply and repair centre for electronic equipment aboard aircraft, ground communications detection equipment, navigation aids, and a manufacturing centre for simple equipment.
There is also a civilian aerodrome near Ambérieu-en-Bugey called the Ambérieu aerodrome but it is located in the neighbouring communes ofChâteau-Gaillard andAmbronay.
Many flight schools have been located at Ambérieu-en-Bugey: the Bressane Aviation School, founded in 1909 by Mignot and Harding, which was associated with theSociété Aérienne deLyon-Bron. In 1912 it took the nameDeperdussin-SPAD and was directed by the pilot René Vidart. There is also the Louis-Mouthier flight school which was opened in 1911. In 1915 the Military flight school of Ambérieu was established. Finally, in 1928, theCaudron flight school moved fromLe Crotoy in theSomme to Ambérieu-en-Bugey. This school trainedJean Mermoz andRené Fonck.
The commune is traversed by theA42 autoroute. The exit for the commune is: No. 8 Ambérieu-en-Bugey in the direction of Geneva.
In addition, several departmental roads serve the commune: the D1075 (formerly National Highway 75) which connectsBourg-en-Bresse toSisteron, the D1504 (the old national road 504) which connects Ambérieu-en-Bugey to the commune ofLe Bourget-du-Lac, and the D904 (the old road known as the "Valley of the Saone").
In 2017 there were 6,403 households in Ambérieu-en-Bugey; 84.8% of households owned at least one car and 31.8% of all households had at least two cars.[19]
Since 4 January 2010, a network of three bus lines has been established to replace theAmbar'bus service. The new network is called TAM (Transport Network Ambarrois) and links its timetables to the schedules ofTER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The network operates from 5:40 a.m. to 8:46 p.m. and carries 208 passengers per day.[20]
In 2017 the total number of dwellings in the municipality was 7,217 (against 5,949 in 2007). Among these units, 88.7% were primary residences, second homes 1.7%, and 9.6% were vacant housing.[19]
These units were split between 42.9% houses and 56.7% apartments. The proportion of residents owning their own homes was 42.7%.[19]
Gold coin ofAmbarri, Gallic people occupied the territory of today's department ofAin and their name explains the toponym Ambérieu-en-Bugey
Ambérieu is mentioned in the formAmbariacus in 843 thenAmbayreu in 1240.[21]
The second element-acus represents a suffix of Gallic origin*-āko(n) which is usually written asacum inLatin. This is a locative suffix which later will designatevillae in Gallo-Roman. It has generally evolved phonetically as-ieu in the region. The first element designates theGauls ( Celtic people ) ofAmbarri whose name meant "living on both (*amb) sides of the Saone (Arar, theSaône)" or was a GallicanthroponymAmbarrius.Ambérieux-en-Dombes,Ambérieux,Ambérac, andAmbeyrac are similar topographical formations.
A number of archaeological discoveries relating to antiquity have been made in Ambérieu-en-Bugey:[22]
in 1839 or 1840 a child'ssarcophagus was found in the commune;[22]
a document dated 1856 reports the discovery of numerous coins dating from theRoman Empire;[22]
the remains of avilla were unearthed in 1940 in the Saint-Germain district;[23]
in the same neighbourhood, in the area of the ruins of the castle of Saint-Germain, an archaeological level was uncovered which contained barbarian tombs and also a chapel dating from theMiddle Ages.[23]
In the Middle Ages Ambérieu belonged toBugey which, likeVaud, was acquired byAmadeus VI of Savoy, after signing theTreaty of Paris with France in 1355 which set the limits of theDuchy of Savoy and theDauphiné. The city lay on the line of defence against France of the Duchy of Savoy. A series of fortifications were built to protect Savoy. Allymes Castle, the fortification of Brédevent, the Saint-Germain Castle, and the tower ofSaint-Denis were parts of this line of defence in the Bugey possessions of the Duke of Savoy.Pérouges, a city of Savoy located on the plains played a commercial role at the border with France until theTreaty of Lyon.
In late 1941Henri Romans-Petit was engaged in theFrench Hope network inSaint-Etienne. DuringChristmas an independent resistance fighter, Marcel Demia aMarket gardener andHorticulturalist from the Ambérieu-en-Bugey commune went there to visit his parents. The two men meet and exchanged views on the situation. Their shared commitment motivated Henri Romans-Petit to create a Resistance organization in the department of Ain.[24] Marcel Demia spoke of some young resistance fighters who he placed on isolated farms and the difficulties encountered in his organization. Henri Romans-Petit arrived in Ain in 1942[25] and began to help the resistance fighters of the STO and his host. Ambérieu-en-Bugey today has a street called Marcel Demia.
The commune, at the instigation ofSaint-Vulbas andPérouges has been experimenting with a weed control plan that does not involve the use of chemicals[31]
An integral part of theCommunity of communes of the plain of Ain, Ambérieu-en-Bugey commune participates in actions such as air quality control as quality is potentially undermined by the proximity of the industrial park of the Plain of Ain.[32]
The geological sub-structure of the Ambérieu-en-Bugey region containsShale gas. The potential exploitation of these deposits has caused some hostility which has been expressed in local politics. Advocacy undertaken by opposition movements are varied: broadcasts,[33][34] a documentary calledGasland - in June 2011, and demonstrations[35] atBlyes the main town in the region concerned.
AGRETA - an organization specialising in continuing education for adults - is based in Ambérieu-en-Bugey. ABernard Palissy training centre for apprentices is also based in the commune.
In addition to the railway, as shown by the creation of the Railway Museum railway in 1987, Ambérieu-en-Bugey also developed around its library with an interest in autobiographical heritage including hosting the headquarters of the Association For Autobiography (APA). In addition, the town has provided a house for associations.
There have been two notable events in the town:
The first, the festivalJazz in the Park was a festival ofjazz that took place in theParc des Échelles in July. The 13th and last edition was held in 2006.
The second, the Salon du Gourmet is held each year in November with dozens of exhibitors from all over France to show their crafts.
TheAssociation for autobiography and autobiographical heritage located in Ambérieu-en-Bugey also organizes ad hoc cultural events.
Several medical centres are based in Ambérieu-en-Bugey: other than the mutual clinic there is a maternity unit in the town, a medical practice at Allymes, the Paul-Mourlon centre for early medico-social action, and the specialized home care service also named Paul-Mourlon.
The town has several sports facilities: the Cordier, Bellievre, Saint-Exupéry, and Plaine de l'Ain gyms. There is also a nautical centre called Laure Manaudou, the Theo-Tillier[Note 4] stadium, and theskatepark.
The newspaperle Progrès offers a daily edition dedicated to the region ofBugey.Voix de l'Ain is a weekly publication offering local information for different regions of the department.Le Journal du Bugey is a weekly publication more focused on information for the Ambérieu-en-Bugey area and its surroundings.
Two prayer halls of theMuslim Faith[45] are located in Ambérieu-en-Bugey: the first is for the Union of Maghreb people of Ain and is located on the rue de la Resistance. The second is run by the Union of Muslim Associations for the Lyon Area and is located on AvenuePaul Painlevé. A building permit has been approved by the town council to build amosque[46]
In 2017 according to the INSEE survey, the median net income per household was €19,860 per year. 49% of the commune's households were then taxable.[19]
In 2017 the population of Ambérieu-en-Bugey aged between 15 and 64 was distributed as follows: 76.2% of active people, 11.3% unemployed, 9.5% student or trainee, and 6.1% of retirees.[19]
An employment centre is located in the town.
Distribution of Employees by Zone of Activity in 2017
At 31 December 2015, Ambérieu-en-Bugey had 1,337 business establishments: 52 were specialized in industrial activity, 131 in construction, 907 in trade, 7 in agriculture, and 142 were in public administration, education, health and social work.[19]
In 2018, 114 new companies were established in the territory of which 80 are under theauto-entrepreneur rules.[19]
TheChâteau des Echelles Park[51] is ranked as aRemarkable Garden of France where the Jazz in the Park festival used to be held each year;
TheParc du Grand Dunois
Ambérieu-en-Bugey was awarded one flower in theConcours des villes et villages fleuris (Competition for Towns and Villages in bloom) competition in 2005 and second in 2008. In 2014 the commune was awarded two flowers.[52]
^The school is nicknamedSolar School because of thesolar panels which cover the roof. On 10 March 2006 a mini-tornado moved and overturned many vehicles and slightly damaged the school however without any injuries.
^The stadium bears the name of the Mayor who succeeded Émile Bravet in 1940.
^Mazenot Georges.Mineral Resources of the Lyon region in:Studies of the people of the Rhone. Vol. 12 No. 2, 1936. pp. 123-258. p.162. Read online:[1]Archived 23 February 2010 at theWayback Machine, 27 June 2011(in French).
^National CelebrationsArchived 8 September 2023 at theWayback Machine, Directorate of the Archives of France, 1991, p.248: 31 July, 11h-12h. Affixing of a plaque, consulted on 19 August 2011(in French)
^B Jacquier,Alexandre Bérard, radical, freemason, BJ (Œuvre Rouge), June 2009, 70 pages, passage 27,ISBN978-2-918632-00-9, Read on line:[2]Archived 8 September 2023 at theWayback Machine, consulted on 27 June 2011(in French).
^"Point info Europe & Jumelage".ville-ambérieuenbugey.fr (in French). Ambérieu-en-Bugey.Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved20 April 2021.
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