Commune of the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Amplepuis takes place in the department of the Rhone, about thirty kilometers of Roanne, on the oceanic slope of the mounts of Beaujolais. Sixty kilometers from Lyon, it extends from 336 meters to 868 meters above sea level.
The commune of Amplepuis suffered a major fire in the mid-14th century by the Tard-Venus, a band of road haulers who ravaged a Part of the Lyonnais. Siege of châtellenie, it also suffered many damages during the wars of religion. But it is between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries that Amplepuis will mainly be illustrated. It became at that time one of the first countries of France for hemp and cotton. It is besides on his lands that the inventor of the machine to sew, Barthélemy Thimonnier was born.
Still very lively, the commune of the Rhône today offers a significant number of monuments and other cultural sites to discover during a stay on site.
The Barthélemy Thimonnier Museum, a museum of France, was opened in honor of the inventor of the sewing machine, a child of the country. One can admire the first collection of sewing machines of France, as well as a collection of cycles. The site also hosts temporary exhibitions and animations on local heritage.
Vestige of the great textile epoch in Amplepuis, the district of Echelette takes its name from the founder of a mechanical weaving factory founded in the 1870s. Located at the exit of the city, on the road of Roanne, it was formerly used To welcome the workers and their families. A city in the city, the district was home to a mixed school and a chapel.
In Gallo-Roman style, the church of Saint-Pothin takes place on the remains of an eleventh-century building. Built in the 1820s, it reveals in particular a very beautiful pulpit in carved wood as well as original woodwork.
Built in the 14th century and remodeled in the 17th century, Rochefort Castle is the residence of the La Brosse family. One can admire there an entrance pavilion inscribed in Historic Monuments, quadrangular towers, moat, or even a portal Louis XIII.
Other castles are also located on the Amplepuis, such as that of Crêt, Renaissance pastiche of the 19th century, that of the Goutte which still reveals a tower of the thirteenth century, or the old castle of Montchervet which has preserved its Despite its transformation into a farm.
Walking through the streets of Amplepuis, you can enjoy an oil mill on the Cours du Reins, Barthélemy Thimonnier's house, the Mondet bridge built between the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as an old classic style chapel Located in front of the present town hall. The latter hosts a small museum.
Do not forget to admire the chapel of Saint-Fortunat which dates from the beginning of the XVIIe century, and the chapel Notre-Dame-des-Grâce and its ex-voto of the end of the XIXe century.
The Amplepuis market is held every Tuesday morning. A Christmas market also offers several festive entertainment in December. The city organizes a spring fair on the last Saturday in April and an autumn fair on the Saturday following All Saints' Day.
During the summer festival, an exhibition unveils the works of lovers of patchwork, sculpture, painting or even couture.
As of July 14, the town offers a popular ball as well as a fireworks display.
The Francoprovençal festival is held every three years in August at Lac des Sapins. The festivities are organized every year by France, Switzerland or Italy. Exhibitions, conferences, shows and other animations are proposed.
