Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne

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Travel Guide > Towns > Rhône-Alpes > Savoie > Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION		CLOSEST TOWNS
Town	Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne	Hermillon at 3.9 km (6 min)
Insee code	73248	Saint-Pancrace at 4.3 km (7 min)
Postcode	73300	Villargondran at 5.5 km (8 min)
Latitude	45.2754030	Pontamafrey-Montpascal at 5.8 km (7 min)
Longitude	6.3448860	Jarrier at 6.2 km (10 min)
Altitude	From 489 to 1200 meters	Le Châtel at 6.2 km (9 min)
Surface	11.51 km²	Saint-Julien-Mont-Denis at 7 km (9 min)
Population	8633 inhabitants	Fontcouverte-la-Toussuire at 8.9 km (13 min)
Density	798 inhabitants/km²	Montvernier at 9.3 km (12 min)
National labels		Saint-Avre at 11.3 km (12 min)
Chief town	Chambéry (at 75 km, 52 min)	La Chambre at 11.4 km (12 min)
Department	Savoie	Sainte-Marie-de-Cuines at 11.5 km (12 min)
Region	Rhône-Alpes	Search another town

LOCATION

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TOWN PRESENTATION

The heart of the Maurienne valley, where the course of the Arvan joined the Arc is a vast area whose slopes offer the variety of alpine landscapes with, in the background, the iconic Needles d'Arves. This is what has created a small town named Maurienne.

The relics of St. John the Baptist (the legend says they were reported by Saint Thecla) make the town the capital of the valley, she'll learn her name Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, and its image: a hand blessing.

Capital of a diocese, so the city built religious monuments which remain the overall plan, with a double cathedral facing the episcopal palace. These first buildings were destroyed in the disorders of the first millennium. We must therefore rebuild, what is done by reusing materials at hand: so fragments of sculptures from the Carolingian period are used in reinvestment in heavy pillars of the cathedral.

Close by the Notre Dame kept his bedside book, and a double gate arch, columns and capitals carved in gypsum (traditional material for sculpture Maurienne).

The cathedral, for its part, the date for any structural work of the 11th century. It has one of the oldest structures in France, since several of the roof trusses have been dated with precision: the woods were cut in the fall of 1074 or 1075. Under the choir of the cathedral had been built a crypt, probably to house the relics of St. John the Baptist. Filled in the 15th century, the crypt was rediscovered in 1958 and is now visitable: we discover the techniques of the Romanesque birth.

This medieval period Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne keeps his cross plan found in its north-south, the picturesque rue Saint-Antoine Street extended by the college. It takes its name from St. Joseph's College in the former Bernardine monastery, a fine example of 17th century Cistercian Heritage.

To all these advantages plus more than ever now tourism. Obligatory passage between France and Italy, a crossroads on the road of great passes, gateway to the many surrounding stations, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is true to its slogan, a city, the mountain!

Detailed information
Transport	Train station of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
Monuments	Cathedral Saint-Jean, Cathedral Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Church Notre-Dame, House of Babylone, Tower of La Correrie

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