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Nantua

Nantua
Nantuat (Arpitan)
A view of Nantua
A view of Nantua
Coat of arms of Nantua
Map
Location of Nantua
Nantua is located in France
Nantua
Nantua
Location within France
Nantua is located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Nantua
Nantua
Location within Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Coordinates: 46°09′07″N 5°36′28″E / 46.1519°N 5.6078°E / 46.1519; 5.6078
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentAin
ArrondissementNantua
CantonNantua
IntercommunalityHaut-Bugey Agglomération
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Pascal Thomasset[1] (DVD)
Area
1
12.79 km2 (4.94 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)[2]
3,416
 • Density267.1/km2 (691.7/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
01269 /01130
Elevation479 m (1,572 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Nantua (French pronunciation: [nɑ̃tɥa] ⓘ; Arpitan: Nantuat) is a commune in and subprefecture of the Ain département in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Eastern France. The commune of Nantua comprises the glacial Lac de Nantua.

Located in the Haut-Bugey historical region, among the southern foothills of the Jura Mountains, it is famous for its fresh-water fish and crayfish.[3]

Lake Nantua dominates the town
A view of the A40 motorway near Nantua, France, showing elevated road structures and forested Jura Mountains in the background
A40 motorway near Nantua

History

[edit]

The town grew up around a Benedictine monastery founded in 671 by Amandus and the church of St Peter where the body of Charles the Bald was initially buried.

The priory of Nantua was sacked and burned in 1230 by Stephen I of Thoire-Villars.[4] Boniface of Savoy was selected prior in 1232.[4]

In 1944, a hundred men were arrested and deported and the local French Secret Army leader was shot dead by the Nazis in response to French resistance activities.[5]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 3,560—    
1975 3,440−0.49%
1982 3,572+0.54%
1990 3,602+0.10%
1999 3,902+0.89%
2007 3,663−0.79%
2012 3,588−0.41%
2017 3,446−0.80%
2023 3,416−0.15%
Source: INSEE[6]

Climate

[edit]

Nantua faces the small Lac de Nantua on its west side and is protected by high cliffs on its landward sides which gives rise to a relatively mild