Re: Tour de France 2019
Posted: 14 Jul 2019, 10:08
Sunday's stage starts from yesterday's destination, Saint Étienne, and meanders in a generally south-western direction, passing early on through Roche-la-Molière, whose arms were once those of the Lavieus, lords of Roche.
The stage crosses the upper reaches of the River Loire at Aurec-sur-Loire. Once again the commune's arms were once those of the local lords, in this case de la Rou.
Pedalling now westward the cyclists pass Craponne-sur-Arzon, whose arms once again bear witness to the former lords, in this case the Polignacs.
The finish is at Brioude, the outskirts of which the riders reach, but no they must first do a long sweep through the hills to the South before coming once more to Brioude from the other side (which at least gives the locals a chance to see the race twice). The arms of Brioude feature a beehive and six bees (which in this case have nothing to do with Napoleon).
Brioude has a population of under 7,000 but hosts a large Romanesque basilica dating from the 11th century, replacing one built in the 5th century. It is dedicated to Saint Julien, a local martyr, not the better known Saint Julian of Le Mans (500km to the North-West). In 1179 the Vicomte de Polignac sacked the town, but was subsequently so remorseful that he established an order of 25 knights charged with defending the basilica. The knights (later canons) of St Julien proved to be something of a curse to the citizens as each was noble and considered himself to be a Count.
The stage crosses the upper reaches of the River Loire at Aurec-sur-Loire. Once again the commune's arms were once those of the local lords, in this case de la Rou.
Pedalling now westward the cyclists pass Craponne-sur-Arzon, whose arms once again bear witness to the former lords, in this case the Polignacs.
The finish is at Brioude, the outskirts of which the riders reach, but no they must first do a long sweep through the hills to the South before coming once more to Brioude from the other side (which at least gives the locals a chance to see the race twice). The arms of Brioude feature a beehive and six bees (which in this case have nothing to do with Napoleon).
Brioude has a population of under 7,000 but hosts a large Romanesque basilica dating from the 11th century, replacing one built in the 5th century. It is dedicated to Saint Julien, a local martyr, not the better known Saint Julian of Le Mans (500km to the North-West). In 1179 the Vicomte de Polignac sacked the town, but was subsequently so remorseful that he established an order of 25 knights charged with defending the basilica. The knights (later canons) of St Julien proved to be something of a curse to the citizens as each was noble and considered himself to be a Count.