Saint-Junien

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Coordinates: 45°53′17″N 0°54′07″E / 45.88806, 0.90194

Administration
Commune of Saint-Junien

Collegiate church of Saint-Junien
Location

Country	France
Region	Limousin
Department	Haute-Vienne
Arrondissement	Rochechouart
Canton	Saint-Junien-Est / Saint-Junien-Ouest (chief town)
Intercommunality	CC Vienne Glane
Mayor	Pierre Allard (2008-2014)
Statistics
Elevation	157–317 m
Land area^¹	56.82 km²
Population^² (1999)	10,666
- Density	188/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	87154/ 87200
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Junien, (Occitan: Sent Junian), is a commune of the Haute-Vienne département, in France.

1 History
2 Demographics
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The history of Saint-Junien begins in AD 500, when an ascetic of Hungarian origin, Saint Amand, chooses to live on the north bank of the Vienne river at a place called Comodoliac. The bishop of Limoges, Rorice Ist, offers him a humble cell. At this time, Junien, originary from the north of France, son of a Count of Cambrai, leaves his family at 15 years old and becomes a disciple of Saint Amand. It is said that Junien knocked on the door of Amand, who did not answer. Junien had to sleep outside, and the snow miraculously spared him during the night. He then lived as a hermit and, after the passing of his master, he lived where the collegiale church stands nowadays.

In 593, Gregory of Tours is impressed by the size of the pilgrimage to the saint's tomb. An urban area is quickly created around the abbey built in honor of the saint. However, this monastery will be destroyed by the Vikings in 866. By the end of the 13th century, high walls are built around the city.

[edit] Demographics

At the 1999 census, the population was 10,666. On 1 January 2007, the estimate was 11,500. Saint-Junien is the second largest town (by population) of the department, after Limoges

Inhabitants are known as Saint-Juniauds.