- Some common characteristics:
- Area: 1226 ha.
- Altitude: 169 m at the lowest point (The Fly) and 307 m highest point (Observatory).
- The Common Saint-Genis-Laval is twinned with Pontassieve (Italy), near Florence, since September 2000 and Saliste (Romania), since March 2002.
- Location:
- 8 km from the center of Lyon
- Canton Saint-Genis-Laval has 4 common Brignais, Chaponost Vourles Saint-Genis-Laval and who is the chief town of Canton.
- Saint-Genis-Laval is part of Greater Lyon, which includes 57 municipalities.
- Population:
- 20 300 inhabitants at the 2005 census further.
- The town had 5 049 inhabitants in 1949, 19 153 in 1990 and 19 790 in the 1999 census.
- The inhabitants are called Saint-Genis-Laval St. Genoa and the Genoese St.
- History:
- Saint-Genis-Laval named after Saint Genis or Genest, actor Roman martyred under Diocletian. In the early 13th century to distinguish it from other villages of the same name, he said the quality of "Valley", which in the 15th century, turned into "laval". The first mention of Saint-Genis date of 807: it is a gift of the Archbishop Leidrade hospitals of Saint-Romain and Saint-Genis.
- In 984 it is mentioned for the first time in the parish of Saint-Genis as part of the properties of the archbishop of Lyon, in the enumeration of the 52 parishes of the Metropolitan Church of Lyons. Gradually, the archbishop resigned his possessions in favor of Canons of the Chapter of St. John. They are the ones who did build the castle on the highest part of the village, where is the present church. In the 13th century, they did fortify the village and in 1447 the wall was rebuilt.
- The current configuration of the center of the city still shows between the route of the medieval remains of the walls, an ancient tower in the garden of the rectory (jail time), the North Gate (restored in the 18th century) and half turn embedded in houses, rue des Halles. Canons of St. John possessed the territory Laye, a fortified house where Pope Clement 5th came to rest in 1306, after his coronation in the church of Saint-Just in Lyon. Still nothing. From the 13th century, the pilgrimage to Notre-Dame-de-Beaune attracted crowds: there is a chapel rebuilt at the end of last century on the site of the miraculous spring. In November 1434, Saint-Genis was occupied by the Burgundians.
- At the time of the League, the Duke of Nemours quartered in Saint-Genis with his army and there he signed a truce with Alfonso d'Ornano, Lieutenant of the King of Navarre, May 25, 1592. In 1764, Route de Lyon / Saint-Etienne was created. During the revolution, Saint-Genis-Laval became known as "the Patriot Genis. This is the Castle Tower (built by the family of Villars and of which we can see the monumental steps) that was the seat of the court of the Management District Executive of the campaign Common stamped (Lyon), chaired by actor Dumanoir . In 1853, the Marist brothers settled in Saint-Genis in property Dumontet, which will become the parent of the congregation. The Arquebuse the Hermitage, vulnerary well known in Lyon will be manufactured until 1962. In 1866, the Empress Eugenie buy Longchen Castle (18th century property Octavio Mey, inventor of the manufacture of silk) and donated to hospices civils de Lyon to make a hospital Sainte Eugenie.
- In 1887 was inaugurated the observatory on the heights of Saint-Genis-Laval near the coast of Fort Lorette was built a few years later, in 1895. This same fort, August 20, 1944, was the scene of the tragic massacre of 120 prisoners of Montluc victims of Nazi barbarism.
- Some personalities St. Genois:
- Mittifiot Fernand Belair (1849-1928). Painter, he is running, among others, the paintings of the choir of the church Saint-Genis-Laval.
- Balouzet Armand (1858-1905). Landscape painter, and award-winning works.
- Jaboulay Mathieu (1860-1913). Illustrious chief surgeon of the Hotel Dieu, he allowed his name to innovative surgical techniques. His brilliant career was cut short by his tragic death in the accident railway Paris-Melun.
- Francois Berthet (1873-1956). Musician, composer of chamber music and choir room for it to Beauregard died at his nephews Ricard.
- Darcieux Francisco (1880-1951). Studied music at the Conservatory of Lyon and the Schola Cantorum in Paris. He composed many sonatas and choral works.
- André Paillot (1885-1944). He created a laboratory to Saint-Genis-Laval scientific study of insects and diseases. For his research, he acquired the scientific world in an international authority of the successor of Pasteur. His four children are illustrated in the resistance.
- Paul of Aubarède (1899-1976). Engineer, he developed the famous "floating motor". Her passion for local history was an inexhaustible storyteller and scholar.
