Saint-Romain-Lachalm (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ ʁɔmɛ̃ laʃalm]; Sant Roman in Occitan) is commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.[3]

Saint-Romain-Lachalm
Château de Saint-Romain
Château de Saint-Romain
Location of Saint-Romain-Lachalm
Map
Saint-Romain-Lachalm is located in France
Saint-Romain-Lachalm
Saint-Romain-Lachalm
Saint-Romain-Lachalm is located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Saint-Romain-Lachalm
Saint-Romain-Lachalm
Coordinates: 45°16′01″N 4°20′06″E / 45.2669°N 4.335°E / 45.2669; 4.335
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentHaute-Loire
ArrondissementYssingeaux
CantonBoutières
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Michel Poinas[1]
Area
1
19.02 km2 (7.34 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,109
 • Density58/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
43223 /43620
Elevation757–1,008 m (2,484–3,307 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The commune's name seems to have come from a visit by Saint Romain, combined with Lachalm referring to the abundance of thatched roofs (la chaum, thatched roof).

Population edit

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 758—    
1975 644−2.30%
1982 640−0.09%
1990 693+1.00%
1999 831+2.04%
2009 1,049+2.36%
2014 1,067+0.34%
2020 1,111+0.68%
Source: INSEE[4]

Sights edit

Notable sights include the church, the chateau (privately owned), and the roadside cross. The patron saint's festival is usually the first weekend in August.

Personalities edit

The noble Du Peloux de Saint Romain family are the counts of Saint-Romain-Lachalm. They came from the Vivarais and St-Romain-Lachalm was part of the dowry of Aymarde de Curnieu in 1418. They restored the chateau in 1603 and added its octagonal tower. When the French Revolution came, Count Charles du Peloux and his son were condemned to death for the simple fact of being of noble lineage. They were finally pardoned thanks to numerous witnesses attesting that they were sympathetic to republican principles (they were supporters of Lafayette). Count Charles was later elected mayor. Of the 22 mayors since, 11 have been from the Du Peloux family.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ INSEE commune file
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE