Saint-Africa

Geography and climate

Saint-Africa is on the road alignment D 999 (in the past RN 99), with 80 km in the east of Albi, 35 km in the west of Millau and 15 km of Roquefort-on-Soulzon.

The city is crossed by the Sorgues, which, with its Affluent S, cut out 7 “mountains”: of the English, Skittle, the Insane ones, Greenhouse, of Cazes, Nougayrolle and Rock of Caylus. Five bridges allow circulation, by order of seniority: the Old bridge, the New bridge, the bridge of the Centenary (or the Brothers), the Railway bridge and the bridge of Resistance. (Photographs of the bridges on Structurae).

The city is the administrative, political and commercial center of a primarily rural territory to vague contours called the Saint-African.

At the border of very different geological zones,

in the North-East Large Causses plates limestones,
in south-east, the Rougier de Camarès schists and clays red,
in south-west last repercussions of the Mounts of Lacaune,
in the North-East buttresses of the Lévézou, the Saint-African present of the landscapes, a flora, a fauna and an inheritance very diversified in edge of the Regional natural park of the Large Causses.

The climate, with important contrasts between the roughness of altitudes and the relative softness of the bottom of the valleys is rather of Mediterranean type.

Although depending administratively on the area of Toulouse, the exchanges and the relations are done especially with Montpellier, much nearer.

Habitat

Saint-Africa is a very vast rural district (approximately 10 times intermediate size of the common Frenchwomen of metropolis), whose surface (110 km ²) is higher than that of Paris intramurally. Several villages, whose population is sometimes higher than that of the smallest communes of the department (Arnac-on-Dourdou, the Viala-of-Not-with-Jaux) strew its territory:

Village S and Hamlets

Bedos
Boussac
Bournac
Cambon
Crassous
Saint-Etienne de Naucoules
Savignac
Tiergues
Truans
Vailhauzy
Vendeloves

Localities and variations

Camaras, Capelle, Cazes, Cazotte, Caylus, Couat, Fregebise, Maxiliou, Monhargues, Mill of the Judge, Rock-White, Saint-Mercies, Saint-Vincent, Touloupy, Vaxergue, Vern, Vernière, Vispens.

Communes bordering

They all are located in the Arrondissement of Millau

in the Canton of Saint-Africa:

Calmels-and-the-Viala, Roquefort-on-Soulzon, Saint-Jean-with Alcapiès, Saint-Rome-with-Cernon, Vabres-l' Abbey and Versols-and-Lapeyre;

in the Canton of Camarès:

Gissac ;

in the Canton Horned:

Saint-Jean-and-Saint-Paul;

in the Canton of Saint-Rome-of-Tarn:

Costes-Gozon and Saint-Rome-of-Tarn.

Economy

Since the the Middle Ages the city, in the center of a primarily agricultural zone, is an important shopping mall of the south Aveyron whose Marché S and current Foires are survival.
With its statute of ex-under-prefecture it is also an administrative center and of important teaching:

public College and college with technical sections (Jean-Jaurès school residence),
private college (Saint-Gabriel),
private college (Holy-Jeanne-D' Arc),
college of public agricultural training,
college of rural private education (Vaxergues),
CFPPA (agricultural Professional training center for adults),
and during nearly thirty years a school of trades (ISFME) of EDF taken again by the Chamber of commerce and of industry of Millau South-Aveyron. It also manages:
the School of the trades of the animation and the techniques of environment (The village).

Throughout the 19th century, the industry of the textile dominated the industrial activity.
At the 20th century, agribusiness industry with in particular the roquefort, then tourism replaced textile industry.
Except the industrial activity related to agriculture (agricultural mechanization, construction steel…), only notable industry is SEFEE (electronic and electric manufacture and Survey firm) which with a manpower of 110 paid releases a sales turnover of 10 million euros in 2004 (source: Internet site of the company)

History

Archaeological data

the commune is occupied as of the Neolithic , with, like visible signals, the Dolmen of Tiergues, that of Crassous or Boussac.
a quasi continuous occupation of the territory is attested by the presence, in various places of shards of potteries since the Neolithic , until S. ( Caylus - Saint-Africa of before Saint-Africa, Chapitre I: Archaeological environment, Jean Poujol, 1995, Published in account of author)

The legend

the local tradition wants that towards 470, Affricanus, bishop of Comminges persecuted by the Visigoth S Arien S, takes refuge in the Vicaria Curiensis which takes then the name of Sain Affrique .

History

In fact, if several charters of the Cartulaire of Vabres-l' Abbaye mention the Vicaria Curiensis starting from 868, its exact localization makes still polemical in the historians, of which some locate it in the valley close to the Dourdou.
In 942, the name of Saint-Africa is attested for the first time in the Cartulaire of Vabres-l' Abbaye, ( charter 47, year 942: " … Vicaria Sancti Affricani in Valle Sorica… " ).
Until the medium of the the Middle Ages, the city is under the domination of the family Caylus.
Towards 1270, the Pont-Vieux built east.
In 1349, the city is the seat of a Viguerie

At the 14th century, thanks to its ramparts, the city resists the attack of the English.
the September 14th 1572 the shortly after the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, the informed inhabitants of Saint-Africa of the massacres with Paris, refusing violence, and seal between them an urban pact of tolerance.
In 1628, against the policy of Richelieu, the population with majority Protesting E uses the ramparts to resist the royal troops of the Prince de Condé and the duke of Epernon. Women and girls of the city illustrate themselves in the battle and the attackers are constrained of raising the seat.
After the rendering of the La Rochelle and the Paix of Ales in 1629 all the places of safety must be removed. The ramparts of the city were destroyed on order of Richelieu of 1632 with 1655.
During the French revolution, the city takes the name of Mountain-on-Sorgues . The decree of the December 22nd 1795 removes this name and gives again at the city Saint-Africa name.
the city becomes after the French revolution seat of Sous-préfecture and the remainder until in 1926.
In 1806, construction of new the protesting Temple.
In 1840, annexation of the communes of Bedos-Peyralle, Bournac, Saint-Etienne-of-Naucoules and Vendeloves .
In 1854, a epidemic of Cholera devastation the city. Votive virgins placed on the frontages of the houses (visible still currently) were been willing thus to thank the virgin for having protected the inhabitants, very believers at that time.

Modern history

October 22nd 2003, mass demonstration, having had the honors of the national press, to protest against the decision of the Regional office of the hospitalization to close the department of surgery of the hospital of Saint-Africa. This demonstration is followed by other media actions (occupation of the building site of the Viaduc of Millau, hunger strike of five people…) who will allow to maintain the department of surgery. It is on this occasion that was created the National coordination of the defense committees of the hospitals of proximity the April 4th 2004.

The railway service road

Saint-Africa had hoped to be on the layout of a line uniting Rodez with Montpellier by the Causse S but, the passage by Tournemire and Millau were decided in 1867. In compensation, a junction uniting Tournemire-Roquefort in Saint-Africa was granted.

August 10th 1868: declaration of public utility and concession to the Company of the South.
October 18th 1874: startup of the line of Tournemire-Roquefort in Saint-Africa.
June 20th 1881: declaration of public utility of a line of Saint-Juéry in Saint-Africa.
November 20th 1883: concession of Saint-Juéry - Saint-Africa with the Company of the South.
1904 : adjudication of ten batches concerning the construction of the line of Saint-Juéry in Saint-Africa.
1914 : labor of foreign origin works on the building site.
1915 - 1917: German prisoners are requisitioned to work on the building site.
April 1st 1932: the State, person in charge of the infrastructures, deliver those to the Compagnie South which protests against this new “burden” and refers about it in the opinion of the Economic National council which classifies the line in work of second urgency.
April 1934: the dealer is authorized not to undertake work of superstructure to his load (poses way, indication, communications, furniture of the stations…) in waiting of better days.
fine 1938: the line of Tournemire-Roquefort in Saint-Africa east coordinated.
November 30th 1941: downgrading of the line of Saint-Juéry in Saint-Africa which will have cost 63.700.000 francs to the taxpayers.
1975 : pose few hundreds of meters of way in direction of Saint-Juéry to serve the new industrial park of Saint-Africa.
Years 1980: closing of Tournemire-Roquefort - Saint-Africa to the goods traffic.
February 12th 2001: transfer by RF of the grounds to the territorial collectivities which transform the platform tracks cyclable.
Ainsi of it the line of Tournemire-Roquefort became a cycle track whereas the line of Saint-Juéry became a tourist road getting a very pleasant route following the valley of the Tarn.

Trains

Before 1914, of the trains ensured a correspondence Tournemire-Roquefort with almost all the trains furrowing the line of the Causse S. There were five shuttles the winter and six the summer.
During the Inter-war period, the service road had been brought back to four daily goods and passenger trains.
After fusion Po-Midday (1934), it had there nothing any more but two light trains and mixed one until the coordination of end 1938.
Until closing, the line was then served by three weekly trains towed by of Y7400 of Béziers.

Administration

Saint-Africa is Chef-lieu Canton of Saint-Africa.

Saint-Africa is also the name given to the urban center including the town of Vabres-l' Abbaye for a total population of 9556 inhabitants and a surface of 152,32 km ².

Before the administrative reform of 1926, Saint-Africa was also chief town of the Arrondissement of Saint-Africa, removed on this occasion, which grouped 6 cantons and 56 communes.

During the French revolution (at the time of the Terror), the city was temporarily renamed Mountain-on-Sorgues by the revolutionary authorities.

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Demography

Personalities related to the commune

Personalities born in Saint-Africa

David Maurice Joseph of Saint-Maurice of Redorte, count Mathieu of Saint-Maurice then of Redorte (1768 - 1833) and Even of France in 1814, is the son of a doctor Protesting. His/her mother remarie with the conventional future Louis Bernard of Saint-Africa. He becomes chief of staff of Joseph Bonaparte the January 7th 1814. Its name is registered at the west coast of the Triumphal arch of the Star. He is the father of Joseph Charles Maurice Mathieu of Redorte, politician.

Pierre-Frederic Sarrus (1798 - 1861), Mathematician, Mechanical author of work in , Calculation of the variations and which left its name to a rule of calculation of the determinant S

Pierre-Auguste Sarrus (1813 - 1876), military chief of Musique is at the origin of the invention of the Sarrussophone. This invention is contemporary of that of the Saxophone from which it is distinguished, primarily, by the use of a double Anche.

Clement de Curières de Castelnau (1849 - 1907), Polytechnicien, Engineer of the School of the mines, will direct the mines of Decazeville, Graissessac. He is the older brother of Edouard.

the general Edouard de Curières de Castelnau (1851 - 1944), chief of staff of the généralissime Joffre during the First World War.

Leonce de Castelnau, politician

Louis Armand, (1854 - 1922) born close to Vabres. It was one of the companions closest to Martel, l'" inventeur" Speleology. The Aven Armand owes him his name.

Emile Borel (1871 - 1956), Mathematician author of work on the calculation of the Probability S and strategic the Game theory. It was also a politician: deputy, Minister for the marine and mayor of Saint-Africa.

Stephan Diagana (1969 -), athlete specialist in the 400 meters hedges, world champion and of Europe.

Richard Sainct (1970 - 2004), French motorcyclist triples victorious Rallye Paris-Dakar (1999, 2000 and 2003).

Stephan Delpuech, (1974 -) is a player of Rugby to XV professional

Other personalities related to the city

Marguerite Call (1883 - 1969), girl of the Mathematician Paul Call, wife Emile Borel in 1901. Woman of letters under the pseudonym of Camille Marbo (contraction of Mar guerite Bo rel) was Prix Fémina in 1913, then member of the jury and president of the same price. She was also mayor-assistant of Saint-Africa

max Fourestier (1907 - 1986), doctor, was raises with the college Saint Gabriel.

Stephan Gum (1976 -), born with Millau, is a French swimmer specialist in the interstitial water stroke. He involves himself with the club of Saint-Africa.

Religious heritage

Parish church 19th Gothic century of style , inside is a virgin out of wooden gilded 15th century.
Churches 19th century: of Cambon, Boussac, Vendeloves, Vailhauzy, Tiergues, Saint-Etienne de Naucoules.
Church of Bedos 16th century, with remainders Romance S.
Church of Bournac and 19th century.
Vault Saint-Mercies 20th century.
Ruins of the vault Saint Martin's day de Boussac.
Niches with votive statuettes of the Virgin in the frontages of the houses.

Civil inheritance

the Dolmen of Tiergues (historic building, classified in 1889)
Vestiges of the old fortifications: turn of enclosure, traces of the ramparts (today boulevard Victor-Hugo , boulevard of the Republic , place of Freedom and boulevard Charles-of-Gaulle .
Old hospital of the 18th century, today Foch college.
Saint-Gabriel College 19th century.
Castle of Vailhauzy 19th century.
Castle of Bournac (13th century, 15th century) restored 19th century.
Ruins of the castle of Caylus on the rock of Caylus which dominates the city.
Castle of the Farmhouse Rougier (historic building, inscription by decree of the March 19th 1979): have a rectangular home, circular tower, square tower, Meurtrière S, and Mâchicoulis.
the bridge Old , classified historic building by decree of the July 12th 1886, was built towards 1270.
the New bridge , end 17th century.
the fountain of the Rams, work of the sculptor Remi Coudrain on the place of the Town hall.
the public garden and its bandstand
the stone press of Savignac (historic building inscription by decree of the August 7th 1980), of the type in escutcheon.
the House of the memory of the Country saint-affricain (installed in the buildings of the old sub-prefecture and native house of Emile Borel): museum and library where the data base of Pierre and Marie-Louise Cabanes is deposited, tireless discoverers of the inheritance of the South Aveyron.
interactive Museum on the ovine breeding: Pastoralia, the world of the ewe.

Principal demonstrations

The Grand Prix of Saint-Africa The Grand Prix of Saint-Africa is a price of painting which was allotted during second half of the 20th century to painters of the " Peinture" young person; exposing in the principal Parisian living rooms. This price consisted of a one month stay in the hotel of the famous cook François Decucq and allowed the artists invited to visit and paint one of the most beautiful areas of France. The prizes winner of the most known prices are Maurice Boitel and Daniel of Janerand.

The Living room of the Friends of Arts Exposure and contest of painting organized during a fifteen or so days towards the end of the summer.

The international tournament of failures of Saint-Africa

The Challenge Armand Vaquerin This estival competition of Rugby is organized each year since 1994 in August, on several stages of the South Aveyron (Millau, Saint-Africa and Camarès).

But too

Gone : every saturday mornings on the Victor-Hugo boulevard.
Fair : third Saturdays of each month except in May: 4.
the " May 4th " : It is the most important fair of the year, the Fun fair invades two of the principal places during the day of May 4th from where its name. It is also the occasion of agricultural presentation of mechanization.

The cattle fair, which accompanied it, falls gradually in disuse: In the years 1950, each place had its animal speciality and was called by its name (at the origin in Patois): the " place at the cochons" was the place François-Fabié …

the festival of Saint-Africa , with various demonstrations (balls public, corso flowered…), mile for the fair of June has.
the Fête of the Music is very animated.
For a few years of new occasions of festivities has met a great success:

Flea market the Saturday morning of August and July.
the fair with the biological products is organized first Sunday of April.
Several gone of producers (or gone country ), in July and August, of which two into night are the pretext of giant banquets of almost 1000 guests, on tables installed in the public garden .

stage City on the way of the 100 km of Millau

Media

Two local newspapers with weekly publication:

the Saint-African , first publication the January 16th 1881.
Progress Saint-African , first publication the December 31st 1910.

Saint-Africa has a daily page in the regional editions of the Dispatch of the South, of Center Presses, and of free Midi.

an associative radio: Radio Saint-Africa (Site), it can be listened in Podcast starting from their site.

Twinnings

, to see:
, to see:

References

See also: Common of Aveyron, Cantons of Aveyron, Districts of Aveyron, Intercommunalités of Aveyron, Regional natural park of the Large Causses, Rouergue, Old province of Rouergue

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