La Roche-sur-Yon

La Roche-sur-Yon (pronounced [la ʁɔʃ syʁ jɔ̃]) is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France. It is the capital of the department. The demonym for its inhabitants is Yonnais.[3]

La Roche-sur-Yon
Prefecture and commune
Square Napoléon (Place Napoléon [fr])
Square Napoléon (Place Napoléon)
Coat of arms of La Roche-sur-Yon
Coat of arms
Location of La Roche-sur-Yon
La Roche-sur-Yon is located in France
La Roche-sur-Yon
La Roche-sur-Yon
La Roche-sur-Yon is located in Pays de la Loire
La Roche-sur-Yon
La Roche-sur-Yon
Coordinates: 46°40′14″N 1°25′34″W
CountryFrance
RegionPays de la Loire
DepartmentVendée
ArrondissementLa Roche-sur-Yon
CantonLa Roche-sur-Yon-1 and 2
IntercommunalityLa Roche-sur-Yon Agglomération
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Luc Bouard[1]
Area
1
87.52 km2 (33.79 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2020)[2]
55,213
 • Density630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
85191 /85000
Elevation32–94 m (105–308 ft)
(avg. 74 m or 243 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Known for its historical significance and cultural heritage, La Roche-sur-Yon also houses a wide range of educational institutions, from primary schools to higher education establishments.

History

The town expanded significantly after Napoleon I chose the site as the new préfecture of the Vendée on 25 May 1804, replacing Fontenay-le-Comte (then under its revolutionary name of Fontenay-le-Peuple). At the time, most of La Roche had been eradicated in the Vendée Revolt (1793–96); the renamed Napoléonville was laid out and a fresh population of soldiers and civil servants was brought in. Napoléonville was designed to accommodate 15,000 people.[4]

The town was called successively:

Geography

The river Yon flows southward through the commune and crosses the town.

Climate

La Roche-sur-Yon has a oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The average annual temperature in La Roche-sur-Yon is 12.4 °C (54.3 °F). The average annual rainfall is 885.5 mm (34.86 in) with November as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 19.5 °C (67.1 °F), and lowest in January, at around 6.1 °C (43.0 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in La Roche-sur-Yon was 41.5 °C (106.7 °F) on 18 July 2022; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −15.4 °C (4.3 °F) on 10 February 1986.

Town Sunshine

(hours/yr)		 Rain

(mm/yr)		Snow

(days/yr)		Storm

(days/yr)		Fog

(days/yr)
National average 1,973770142240
La Roche-sur-Yon 1,922.4880.74.913.156.4
Paris 1,661637121810
Nice 2,7247671291
Strasbourg 1,693665292956
Brest 1,6051,21171275


Climate data for La Roche-sur-Yon (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1984−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.9
(60.6)		 21.6
(70.9)		 24.1
(75.4)		 28.1
(82.6)		 31.9
(89.4)		 38.8
(101.8)		 41.5
(106.7)		 38.7
(101.7)		 34.2
(93.6)		 29.9
(85.8)		 21.1
(70.0)		 18.7
(65.7)		 41.5
(106.7)
Average high °C (°F) 9.0
(48.2)		 10.1
(50.2)		 13.1
(55.6)		 15.7
(60.3)		 19.3
(66.7)		 22.8
(73.0)		 24.9
(76.8)		 25.1
(77.2)		 22.1
(71.8)		 17.3
(63.1)		 12.5
(54.5)		 9.5
(49.1)		 16.8
(62.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.1
(43.0)		 6.4
(43.5)		 8.8
(47.8)		 10.9
(51.6)		 14.3
(57.7)		 17.5
(63.5)		 19.4
(66.9)		 19.5
(67.1)		 16.8
(62.2)		 13.4
(56.1)		 9.2
(48.6)		 6.5
(43.7)		 12.4
(54.3)
Average low °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8)		 2.7
(36.9)		 4.4
(39.9)		 6.0
(42.8)		 9.3
(48.7)		 12.3
(54.1)		 13.9
(57.0)		 13.9
(57.0)		 11.4
(52.5)		 9.4
(48.9)		 5.9
(42.6)		 3.6
(38.5)		 8.0
(46.4)
Record low °C (°F) −14.9
(5.2)		 −15.4
(4.3)		 −10.3
(13.5)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 2.8
(37.0)		 7.2
(45.0)		 5.1
(41.2)		 2.5
(36.5)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 −7.1
(19.2)		 −9.5
(14.9)		 −15.4
(4.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 94.8
(3.73)		 70.5
(2.78)		 64.4
(2.54)		 65.9
(2.59)		 62.4
(2.46)		 45.3
(1.78)		 47.9
(1.89)		 52.1
(2.05)		 71.9
(2.83)		 98.7
(3.89)		 108.1
(4.26)		 103.5
(4.07)		 885.5
(34.86)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12.6 10.5 10.3 10.0 9.5 7.5 7.4 7.6 7.9 12.0 13.3 13.2 121.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 73.6 106.4 151.1 183.6 210.8 229.0 241.4 235.7 199.1 128.8 88.9 74.0 1,922.4
Source: Meteo France[6][7][8]

Population

The population data in the table and graph below refer to the commune of La Roche-sur-Yon proper, in its geography at the given years. The commune of La Roche-sur-Yon absorbed the former communes of Le Bourg-sous-la-Roche-sur-Yon and Saint-André-d'Ornay in 1964.[9]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1800 1,015—    
1806 857−2.78%
1821 2,792+8.19%
1831 3,904+3.41%
1836 5,257+6.13%
1841 5,164−0.36%
1846 6,909+6.00%
1851 7,498+1.65%
1856 8,178+1.75%
1861 8,298+0.29%
1866 8,710+0.97%
1872 8,841+0.25%
1876 9,755+2.49%
1881 10,634+1.74%
1886 11,773+2.06%
1891 12,215+0.74%
1896 12,710+0.80%
1901 13,629+1.41%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1906 13,685+0.08%
1911 14,885+1.70%
1921 13,629−0.88%
1926 14,538+1.30%
1931 15,247+0.96%
1936 16,073+1.06%
1946 18,107+1.20%
1954 19,576+0.98%
1962 24,019+2.59%
1968 36,067+7.01%
1975 44,713+3.12%
1982 45,098+0.12%
1990 45,219+0.03%
1999 49,262+0.96%
2007 51,124+0.46%
2012 52,808+0.65%
2017 54,372+0.59%
Source: EHESS[9] and INSEE (1968-2017)[10]

Administration

The Communauté d'agglomération "La Roche-sur-Yon Agglomération" contains 15 communes:

La Roche-sur-Yon is the chief town of the Arrondissement of La Roche-sur-Yon, which covers 11 cantons, 92 communes, and has a population of 230,386 (1999 census).

La-Roche-sur-Yon is chief town of two cantons, Canton of La Roche-sur-Yon-1 and Canton of La Roche-sur-Yon-2.

Main sights
  • Napoléon's statue (1854)
    Napoléon's statue (1854)
  • Kiosk on Napoléon square
    Kiosk on Napoléon square
  • Napoléon square / Place Napoléon [fr]
    Napoléon square / Place Napoléon
  • Saint-Louis church
    Saint-Louis church
  • Saint-Louis church
    Saint-Louis church
  • Saint-Louis church organ
    Saint-Louis church organ
  • Saint Louis Church of La Roche-sur-Yon
    Saint Louis Church of La Roche-sur-Yon
  • Saint Louis Church of La Roche-sur-Yon
    Saint Louis Church of La Roche-sur-Yon
  • Theatre
    Theatre
  • Old Hospital
    Old Hospital
  • Museum
    Museum
  • Post office
    Post office
  • Prefecture building
    Prefecture building
  • Sacré-cœur church
    Sacré-cœur church
  • Renaissance house (1566)
    Renaissance house (1566)
  • Old Palais de Justice
    Old Palais de Justice
  • Benjamin Rabier media library
    Benjamin Rabier media library
  • Train station
    Train station
  • Fontenelles Abbey
    Fontenelles Abbey

Transport

The Gare de La Roche-sur-Yon railway station offers connections to Nantes, Paris, Les Sables-d'Olonne, Bordeaux and several regional destinations. The A87 motorway connects La Roche-sur-Yon with Les Sables-d'Olonne and Angers, the A83 with Nantes and Niort.

Education

Primary and Secondary Education

The commune has designated attendance zones for its primary schools.[11]

Schools include:

  • 2 public preschools (écoles maternelles)[12]
  • 2 public elementary schools[12]
  • 13 public school groups of combined preschools and elementary schools[12]
  • 6 private elementary schools[12]
  • Public junior high schools: Collège Auguste et Jean-Renoir, Collège mixte Les Gondoliers, Collège mixte Edouard Herriot, Collège Haxo[13]
  • Private junior high schools: Collège mixte du Sacré-Coeur, Collège mixte Richelieu, Collège mixte Saint-Louis[13]
  • Public senior high schools: Lycée Nature (general education and agricultural technology), Lycée d'état mixte Alfred-Kastler, Lycée polyvalent Jean de Lattre-de-Tassigny, Lycée polyvalent Pierre-Mendès-France, and Lycée professionnel Edoaurd Branly[14]
  • Private senior high schools: Lycée Saint-François d'Assise, Lycée d'enseignement général et technologique Notre-Dame-du-Roc, Lycée les Etablières[14]
  • One grande école : Institut catholique d'arts et métiers

Higher Education

La Roche-sur-Yon is home to several higher education institutions:

  • Université de Nantes — La Roche-sur-Yon Campus: An extension of the University of Nantes, this campus hosts a variety of undergraduate programs including Business Administration, Computer Science, and Law.[15]
  • IUT La Roche-sur-Yon: A part of the University Institute of Technology, it provides vocational-technical education, granting two-year diplomas in fields like Mechanical Engineering, Business and Administration Management, and Multimedia and Internet Technologies.[16]
  • ICES (Institut Catholique d'Études Supérieures): A private institution known for programs in humanities, social sciences, law, and business.[17]

Specialized Institutions

La Roche-sur-Yon also hosts several specialized educational institutions:

  • École Supérieure de Design de La Roche-sur-Yon: A design school offering programs in graphic design, product design, and interaction design.[18]
  • Conservatoire à rayonnement départemental de La Roche-sur-Yon: A music, dance, and drama school providing a wide range of courses for all ages.

Sports

In 2014 La Roche-sur-yon hosted the 2014 French championship of table tennis[19]

La Roche-sur-Yon's Vendéspace hosted one of the first round ties of the 2014 Davis Cup tennis tournament over the weekend of 31 January - 2 February 2014. France hosted Australia as both teams competed for a place in the World Group quarterfinals.

In 2015 La Roche-sur-Yon, will host the 2015 FIRS Men's Roller Hockey World Cup, the first time that a World Cup of roller hockey is held in France.

In June 2015 La Roche-sur-Yon's Vendéspace will host the qualification tournament for the World Championships in Savate Combat[20]

Twin towns – sister cities

La Roche-sur-Yon is twinned with:[21]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. "Populations légales 2020". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 29 December 2022.
  3. "yonnais - Wiktionary". en.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  4. Graham Robb, The Discovery of France, Picador, London (2007), pp257-8
  5. Paris, Nice, Strasbourg, Brest
  6. "Données climatiques de la station de La Roche-sur-Yon" (in French). Meteo France. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  7. "Climat Pays de la Loire" (in French). Meteo France. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  8. "Fiche Climatologique Statistiques 1991-2020 et records" (PDF) (in French). Météo-France. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  9. Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet La Roche-sur-Yon, EHESS (in French).
  10. Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  11. "Sectorisation scolaire 2016." La Roche-sur-Yon. Retrieved on 6 September 2016.
  12. "." La Roche Sur-Yon. Retrieved on 6 September 2016.
  13. "Collèges." La Roche Sur-Yon. Retrieved on 6 September 2016.
  14. "Lycées." La Roche Sur-Yon. Retrieved on 6 September 2016.
  15. ANSAR, Cécile. "Bienvenue sur le Pôle universitaire yonnais, Nantes Université à La Roche-sur-Yon en Vendée". Pôle universitaire de La Roche-sur-Yon (in French). Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  16. ANSAR, Cécile. "Assurer votre avenir est notre force". IUT La Roche-sur-Yon (in French). Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  17. "Accueil". ICES (Institut Catholique de Vendée) (in French). Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  18. "ESA - École Supérieure de l'Alternance | Du BAC+2 au BAC+5". ecolesuperieurealternance.fr (in French). 3 July 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  19. "Les résultats des Championnats de France 2014 de tennis de table | Championnat de France | Actualité Nationale | ACTUALITE". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  20. "Ouverture de session / Utilisateur - Vendespace".
  21. "Villes partenaires". larochesuryon.fr (in French). La Roche-sur-Yon. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
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