- The situation:
- Balbigny is located on the banks of the Loire and major roads (A72, RN82).
- Bridge of the Loire was inaugurated in 1950 by President Antoine Pinay.
- History:
- Balbigny owes its name to a general named Balbignius who settled here to make war against Maximus installed near Marclopt. There remains no vestige of that era. The first traces of life Balbigny dating from 1090.
- From the 18th century to the 19th century, when the Loire was wild, Balbigny was a village boatmen. Men sailed on Rambertes (boats are flat), ferrying coal from the mines of Saint-Étienne to Roanne. These boats were loaded and Saint-Rambert called at Balbigny for boatmen are replaced.
- On 1 August 1832, the third line of railway through France Balbigny appeared. This line connected Andrezieux in Roanne.
- In 1913, Balbigny is connected to Saint-Germain-Laval and Régny. This is the end of waterway transportation.
