Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert

Two former towns that have merged.

Of its Gallo-Roman origins, Saint-Rambert sur Loire has retained its privileged situation on a hill. The Saint-Jean chapel, the church and the priory bear witness to an important religious past. Occiacium was invested by twelve Benedictine monks who founded a monastery here in the C.7th . In the C.11th, the relics of Saint Rambert were transferred to the church and the town became a famous centre of pilgrimage. The narrow streets, the half-timbered houses, the round tower and the Porte Franchise ( franchise gate) are the witnesses of a rich and majestic town
On the other bank, Saint-Just-sur-Loire, a Roman town, suffered a number of invasions until the domination of the priors and counts. It was only in 1531 that the town was re-attached to the French crown. The revolts during the Inquisition and then the Revolution dealt sorely with the township.
In the C.18th Saint-Just-sur-Loire grew in importance because of its river navigation, but its river transport activities were ruined in the middle of the C.19th by the arrival of the railway in France.
It was thanks to its dye-making, glass-making and metallurgy that the town was able to pick up again economically.
The two parishes merged in 1973

Information
Tourist Office: Tel: 04 77 52 05 14