Saulieu

Saulieu (French pronunciation: [soljø]) is a rural commune in the Côte-d'Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France. Its 2,413 inhabitants (in 2017) call themselves Sédélociens.

Saulieu
Commune
Saint-Andoche basilica
Coat of arms
Location of Saulieu
Saulieu Show map of France Saulieu Show map of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Coordinates: 47°16′51″N 4°13′46″E
Country	France
Region	Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Department	Côte-d'Or
Arrondissement	Montbard
Canton	Semur-en-Auxois
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Martine Mazilly[1]
Area 1	32.03 km2 (12.37 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	2,269
• Density	71/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	21584 /21210
Elevation	394–596 m (1,293–1,955 ft) (avg. 545 m or 1,788 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Capital of the Morvan, situated within the Morvan Regional Natural Park, Saulieu lies 250 km southeast of Paris on the RN6 road.

History

This walled town has existed since Roman times when it was known as Sidolocus (or Sedelocus), as seen on the tombs and engravings that can be found in the hills overlooking the modern town. Every Saturday morning a unique market is held in the square selling goods of many kinds.^{[citation needed]}

Church

The 13th-century church of Saint-Saturnin.

The Basilica of Saint Andoche, noted for its west portal^[3] and carved capitals depicting biblical stories and religious teachings, was founded as an abbey church in the 6th century. Rebuilt as a collegiate church in the 12th century, it became a Minor Basilica in 1919.

There are over 60 carved capitals in the basilica, several of which have narrative figures. Some of the capitals are the Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15), Balaam (Numbers 23-24), The Risen Christ (John 20:11-18; Matthew 28:1-10), Temptation of Christ (Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-13; Lk 4:1-13) and the capital of the "Cockfight in the south arcade, fourth pier (facing the aisle)".^[4][5]

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1836 3,023 —     1901 3,583 +0.26% 1936 3,121 −0.39% 1962 3,269 +0.18% 1968 3,303 +0.17% 1975 2,946 −1.62%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1982 3,084 +0.66% 1990 2,917 −0.69% 1999 2,837 −0.31% 2007 2,616 −1.01% 2012 2,514 −0.79% 2017 2,413 −0.82%
Source: EHESS[6] and INSEE (1968-2017)[7]

Sights

• Saint Andoche Basilica, a Romanesque church built around 1130–1140.
• Tomb of Saint Andoche, reputed to be writer of the evangelistary of Charlemagne.
• Cemetery of the church of Saint Saturnin with Gallo-Roman graves.
• François Pompon regional museum.

International relations

• Caprino Veronese, Italy
• Gau-Algesheim, Germany, since 1964.

Personalities

• Yves Afonso, actor
• Bernard Loiseau, chef
• François Pompon, sculptor
• Claude Sallier, philologist and churchman

See also

• Communes of the Côte-d'Or department
• Parc naturel régional du Morvan