Editing Autun

{{short description|Subprefecture and commune in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France}}
{{For|the house in the United States|Autun (West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania)}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name               = Autun
|commune status     = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
|image              = {{Photomontage|position=center
 | photo2a = Ecole militaire d'Autun et cimetière.jpg
 | photo2b = 112 Autun L'hôtel de ville et le théâtre.jpg
 | photo1b = Cathédrale St Lazare Autun 29.jpg
 | photo3a = Temple de Janus, Autun - 04.jpg
 | photo2c = Bourgogne Autun Theatre Romain 17072009 - panoramio.jpg
 | photo1c = Passage Balthus Autun 5.jpg
 | size = 270
 | spacing = 2
 | color = #FFFFFF
 | border = 0
 | foot_montage = From top down, left to right: [[Autun Cathedral]], Passage de la Terrasse, Lycée militaire, Autun Theatre and City Hall, Roman-era theatre, [[Temple of Janus (Autun)|Temple of Janus]]}}
|caption            = 
|arrondissement     = Autun
|canton             = [[Canton of Autun-1|Autun-1]], [[Canton of Autun-2|Autun-2]]
|image coat of arms = Blason autun.svg
|INSEE              = 71014
|postal code        = 71400
|mayor              = [[Vincent Chauvet]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|party              = [[Democratic Movement (France)|MoDem]]
|term               = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality   = CC du Grand Autunois Morvan
|coordinates        = {{coord|46.9517|4.2994|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m        =
|elevation min m    = 280
|elevation max m    = 642
|area km2           = 61.52
|population         = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date    = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}

'''Autun''' ({{IPA|fr|otœ̃|lang|Fr-Autun.ogg}}) is a [[Subprefectures in France|subprefecture]] of the [[Saône-et-Loire]] [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Bourgogne-Franche-Comté]] [[Regions of France|region]] of central-eastern [[France]]. It was founded during the [[Principate]] era of the early [[Roman Empire]] by Emperor [[Augustus]] as '''Augustodunum''' to give a Roman capital to the [[Gauls|Gallic]] people [[Aedui]], who had [[Bibracte]] as their political centre. In Roman times the city may have been home to 30,000 to 100,000 people, according to different estimates.<ref name="PlanholClaval1994">{{cite book|author1=Xavier de Planhol|author2=Paul Claval|title=An Historical Geography of France|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C19glZh7zfoC&pg=PA47|date=17 March 1994|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-32208-9|page=47}}</ref> Nowadays, the [[Communes of France|commune]] has a population of about 15,000.<ref>[http://www.grandautunoismorvan.fr/la-communaute-de-communes/le-territoire-149.html].</ref>

Pioneer of the Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth Century with the early exploitation of oil shale and fluorine, since the twentieth century, Autun has experienced a renewed dynamism that has made it the headquarters of several international companies (Dim, Nexans). It contains one of the six French military high schools (Lycée militaire d'Autun). The city, due to its ancient and medieval past, possesses a rich heritage that makes it one of the most important tourist sites in the heart of Burgundy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Présentation du territoire |url=https://www.grandautunoismorvan.fr/la-communaute-de-communes/le-territoire |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.grandautunoismorvan.fr |language=fr}}</ref>

==History==
===Early history===
[[Image:Théâtre romain Autun.JPG|thumb|left|Roman theatre]]
[[File:Temple Janus angle.jpg|thumb|left|Janus Temple]]
Augustodunum was founded during the reign of the first [[Roman emperor]], [[Augustus]], after whom it was named. It was the [[civitas]] "tribal capital" of the Aedui, Continental [[Celts]] who had been allies and "brothers" (''{{lang|la|fratres}}'') of Rome since before [[Julius Caesar]]'s [[Gallic Wars]]. Augustodunum was a planned foundation replacing the original [[oppidum]] [[Bibracte]], located some {{cvt|25|km}} away. Several elements of Roman architecture such as walls, gates, and a Roman theater are still visible in the town.

In AD&nbsp;356, a force of [[Alemanni]] brought the [[siege of Autun]]. The disrepair of the walls left the city in danger of falling. Autun was saved by the arrival of the [[Julian (emperor)|Emperor Julian]] in one of his early military successes. In [[Late Antiquity]], Autun became famous for its schools of [[rhetoric]]. A world map based on the [[Geography (Ptolemy)|''Geography'']] of [[Ptolemy]] was famous for its size and was displayed in the [[portico]] of one of the schools. It may have survived until early modern times.<ref>John Brian Harley, David Woodward, ''The History of Cartography Vol I'' p. 290.</ref>

In 532, the [[Merovingian dynasty|Merovingian]] kings [[Childebert I]] and [[Chlothar I]] in [[Battle of Autun (532)|Battle of Autun]] defeated the [[Burgundians]] led by king [[Godomar]] and took over the [[Kingdom of the Burgundians|country of Burgundy]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stefánik |title=Historical Atlas of the World |isbn=9781781866153 |pages=92–93}}</ref> In 642 or 643, [[Battle of Autun (640s)|another battle]] was fought near Autun between feuding Frankish noblemen.

Leger (born circa 616- died 678), was bishop of Autun. He was tortured in [[Lucheux]] (Somme) on the orders of the mayor of the [[Ebroin]] Palace, who then murdered him. Around 670 he had presided over the second council of Autun (after that of 599, which was convened by Bishop [[Syagre d'Autun|Syagre]]).<ref>« Les conciles d'Autun », article de Lucien Taupenot paru dans la revue ''Images de Saône-et-Loire'' No.&nbsp;143 de septembre 2005 (p. 14-15).</ref>

In 880, Count Richard of Autun was made the [[Richard, Duke of Burgundy|first Duke of Burgundy]].

In 1506, [[Barthélemy de Chasseneuz]] made his reputation as an attorney, defending the rats of Autun against the charge of eating the barley crop.<ref>Edward Payson Evans, ''The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals'' (1906), p. 18.</ref>

=== Modern times ===
In 1788, [[Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord]] became bishop of Autun. He was elected member of the clergy for the [[Estates-General of 1789]].

The High School plays an important role in the history of the city and even France since [[Napoleon]] gave it its current name, and his brothers [[Joseph Bonaparte|Joseph]] and [[Lucien Bonaparte|Lucien]] studied there. This school continues to operate today. The decorated [[wrought iron]] gates were erected in 1772; the subjects taught in the school are indicated by various representations of objects along the top of these grids.

During the [[Franco-Prussian War]] of 1870, the leader of the [[Army of the Vosges]], [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]],<ref>Howard, Michael. ''The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France, 1870-1871''. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1962. p.254</ref> chose the city as his headquarters.

In 1837, a commercial mining of [[oil shale]] [[Autun oil shale deposit|deposit near Autun]] marked the beginning of the modern [[oil shale industry|oil-shale industry]].<ref name=laherrere>{{Cite web | last =Laherrère | first =Jean | author-link =Jean Laherrère | title =Review on oil shale data | publisher =Hubbert Peak | year =2005 | url =http://www.hubbertpeak.com/laherrere/OilShaleReview200509.pdf | access-date =2007-06-17 | archive-date =2007-09-28 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004607/http://www.hubbertpeak.com/laherrere/OilShaleReview200509.pdf | url-status =dead }}</ref>

In 1852, the [[uranium]] mineral [[autunite]] was first discovered near Autun, and named for the town.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

==Geography==
The city rests on the southern edge of a depression called the Permian Autun Basin which includes the Autunian stratotype forming the Autunois. It is surrounded to the north by [[bocage]] meadows (bocage with wide mesh), to the west by the [[Morvan]] massif, and to the south by deciduous forests (domanial forest of Planoise) covering a sandstone plateau.

The Autunois region is composed of sixty-four communes grouped into seven cantons. In the cantons of Autun-Nord and Autun-Sud are the following municipalities: [[Antully]], [[Auxy, Saône-et-Loire|Auxy]], [[Curgy]], [[Dracy-Saint-Loup]], [[Monthelon, Saône-et-Loire|Monthelon]], [[Saint-Forgeot]] and [[Tavernay]].


===Climate===
The commune lies in the northwest of the department.

For the period 1971-2000, the average annual temperature was 10.5°C, with an annual temperature range of 16.6°C. The average annual cumulative precipitation was 1,061 mm, with 12.1 days of precipitation in January and 7.6 days in July.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Joly |first=Daniel |last2=Brossard |first2=Thierry |last3=Cardot |first3=Hervé |last4=Cavailhes |first4=Jean |last5=Hilal |first5=Mohamed |last6=Wavresky |first6=Pierre |date=2010-06-18 |title=Les types de climats en France, une construction spatiale |url=https://journals.openedition.org/cybergeo/23155 |journal=Cybergeo: European Journal of Geography |language=fr |doi=10.4000/cybergeo.23155 |issn=1278-3366|doi-access=free }}</ref> For the period 1991-2020, the average annual temperature observed at the meteorological station installed in the municipality was 10.7°C and the average annual cumulative precipitation was 857.2 mm. The maximum temperature recorded at this station was 40°C, reached on August 12, 2003; the minimum temperature was −18.3°C, reached on December 20, 2009.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Joly |first=Daniel |last2=Brossard |first2=Thierry |last3=Cardot |first3=Hervé |last4=Cavailhes |first4=Jean |last5=Hilal |first5=Mohamed |last6=Wavresky |first6=Pierre |date=2010-06-18 |title=Les types de climats en France, une construction spatiale |url=https://journals.openedition.org/cybergeo/23155 |journal=Cybergeo: European Journal of Geography |language=fr |doi=10.4000/cybergeo.23155 |issn=1278-3366|doi-access=free }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Autun (1991–2020 averages)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 16.9
|Feb record high C = 20.3
|Mar record high C = 25.3
|Apr record high C = 28.2
|May record high C = 32.2
|Jun record high C = 36.9
|Jul record high C = 39.2
|Aug record high C = 40.0
|Sep record high C = 34.5
|Oct record high C = 28.9
|Nov record high C = 22.2
|Dec record high C = 16.8
|year record high C = 40.0
|Jan high C = 6.1
|Feb high C = 7.8
|Mar high C = 12.3
|Apr high C = 15.8
|May high C = 19.7
|Jun high C = 23.5
|Jul high C = 25.9
|Aug high C = 25.8
|Sep high C = 21.3
|Oct high C = 16.3
|Nov high C = 10.2
|Dec high C = 6.6
|year high C = 15.9
|Jan low C = -0.3
|Feb low C = -0.5
|Mar low C = 1.4
|Apr low C = 3.5
|May low C = 7.5
|Jun low C = 10.9
|Jul low C = 12.6
|Aug low C = 12.2
|Sep low C = 8.6
|Oct low C = 6.3
|Nov low C = 2.7
|Dec low C = 0.3
|year low C = 5.4
|Jan record low C = -14.3
|Feb record low C = -15.9
|Mar record low C = -13.2
|Apr record low C = -6.5
|May record low C = -2.0
|Jun record low C = 0.5
|Jul record low C = 4.5
|Aug record low C = 1.7
|Sep record low C = -1.2
|Oct record low C = -7.9
|Nov record low C = -12.0
|Dec record low C = -18.3
|year record low C = -18.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 80.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 60.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 60.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 64.3
|May precipitation mm = 74.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 65.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 60.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 61.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 63.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 79.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 91.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 94.7
|year precipitation mm = 857.2
|Jan precipitation days = 10.6
|Feb precipitation days = 9.0
|Mar precipitation days = 9.2
|Apr precipitation days = 10.0
|May precipitation days = 10.6
|Jun precipitation days = 8.5
|Jul precipitation days = 8.3
|Aug precipitation days = 8.0
|Sep precipitation days = 8.0
|Oct precipitation days = 10.5
|Nov precipitation days = 11.7
|Dec precipitation days = 12.6
|year precipitation days = 117.0
|Jan sun = 67.3
|Feb sun = 102.5
|Mar sun = 161.7
|Apr sun = 196.6
|May sun = 209.1
|Jun sun = 245.4
|Jul sun = 261.9
|Aug sun = 228.0
|Sep sun = 191.8
|Oct sun = 124.1
|Nov sun = 71.6
|Dec sun = 58.5
|year sun = 1918.4
|source 1= Météo France<ref name= Météo>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/france/troyes/10030001/normales
| title = Données climatiques de la station de Troyes
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 4 January 2016
| archive-date = 2 June 2019
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190602063020/http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/france/troyes/10030001/normales
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name=MFclimat2>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/france/champagne-ardenne/regi21/normales
| title = Climat Champagne-Ardenne
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 4 January 2016
| archive-date = 25 February 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180225073421/http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/france/champagne-ardenne/regi21/normales
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
}}

==Population==
{{Historical populations
|align = none
|cols = 2
|percentages = pagr
|source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|2040|Autun}}</ref> and INSEE (1968-2017)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-71014#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
|graph-pos = bottom
|1793 |7792
|1800 |9176
|1806 |9400
|1821 |9744
|1831 |9936
|1836 |10435
|1841 |11164
|1846 |11637
|1851 |11997
|1856 |11156
|1861 |11897
|1866 |12389
|1872 |11684
|1876 |12889
|1881 |14049
|1886 |14895
|1891 |15187
|1896 |15543
|1901 |15764
|1906 |15479
|1911 |15498
|1921 |13856
|1926 |14119
|1931 |14045
|1936 |14863
|1946 |14438
|1954 |14399
|1962 |15305
|1968 |18398
|1975 |21556
|1982 |20587
|1990 |17906
|1999 |16419
|2007 |15069
|2012 |14124
|2017 |13290
}}

==Sights==

The city boasts two ancient [[Roman Empire|Roman]] gates (Porte Saint-André and Porte d'Arroux) and other ruins dating to the time of Augustus. One of the most impressive remains is that of the ancient theatre, which was one of the largest in the western part of the empire with a 17,000-seat capacity. To the northwest of the city is the so-called Temple of Janus, only two walls (faces) of which remain. To the southeast is the mysterious Pierre de Couhard, a rock pyramid of uncertain function which may date to Roman times.

[[File:Autun Pyramide de Couhard.jpg|thumb|240px|Couhard Pyramid]]
[[Autun Cathedral]], also known as ''Saint Lazare Cathedral'', dates from the early twelfth century and is a major example of [[Romanesque architecture]]. It was formerly the chapel of the Dukes of Burgundy; their palace was the actual episcopal residence. The cathedral was originally built as a [[pilgrimage]] church for the [[veneration]] of the [[relic]] Saint Lazarus, mentioned in the Gospels, and considered the first bishop of Marseille, and who, always according to tradition, arrived in Provence with Mary Magdalen.

[[Image:Autun porte Saint-André.JPG|thumb|240px|Saint-André gate]]
[[File:Autun Porte Arroux PA00113093 06 JPM.JPG|thumb|240px|Arroux gate]]
Autun's 12th-century bishop, Étienne de Bâgé, probably built the church in response to the [[Vézelay Abbey|construction of Ste. Madeleine]] at nearby [[Vézelay]], home to the French [[Cult (religion)|cult]] of [[Mary Magdalene]]. St. Lazare was only later elevated to the rank of cathedral, replacing the former cathedral dedicated to [[Nazarius and Celsus|St. Nazaire]].<ref>Linda Seidel, ''Legends in limestone: Lazarus, Gislebertus, and the Cathedral of Autun'' (University of Chicago Press, 1999), p. 35 [https://books.google.com/books?id=hQdw2Pf6Vy0C&dq=%22No+rationale+for+the+church%27s+construction%22&pg=PA34 online.]</ref>

The Autun Cathedral is famous for its architectural sculpture, particularly the [[Tympanum (architecture)|tympanum]] of [[The Last Judgment]] above the west [[Portal (architecture)|portal]], surviving fragments from the lost portal of the north [[transept]], and the [[Capital (architecture)|capitals]] in the [[nave]] and [[choir (architecture)|choir]]. All of these are traditionally considered the work of [[Gislebertus]], whose name is on the west tympanum. It is uncertain whether Gislebertus is the name of the sculptor or of a [[patron]]. If Gislebertus is in fact the artist, he is one of very few medieval artists whose name is known.

==Other notable connections==
* Bishop and Saint [[Leodegar]] (c. 615 – 679)
* Nivelon I (d. 768) was known as Count of Autun
* In the late 9th century, [[Charles Martel]]'s daughter (name listed as Auda, Alane, or Aldana) married [[Thierry IV]] (also called Theoderich or Theoderic), Count of Autun.
* In the late 9th century, the countship was vacant after the death of [[Robert the Strong]], but was returned to [[Bernard Plantapilosa]], son of [[Bernard of Septimania]], and then later to [[Bernard of Gothia]] after Bernard fell out of favor.
* In 878, King [[Louis the Younger]] took the countship away and gave it to his chamberlain, Theodoric.
* [[Honorius Augustodunensis]] (died c. 1151)
* [[Barthélemy de Chasseneuz]] practiced law in Autun in 1506, became crown attorney of the Autun bailliage in 1508, where he made his reputation as a criminal lawyer by his eloquent defense of a group of rats who were put on trial for destroying the barley crop of the province.
* [[Nicolas Rolin]], Chancellor of Burgundy under [[Philip the Good]], came from Autun, where several examples of his artistic patronage can be seen. The ''[[Rolin Madonna]]'', by [[Jan van Eyck]], in the [[Louvre]], shows what was probably at least intended as a view of Autun in the background.
*Autun is the main setting for [[James Salter]]'s 1967 novel ''[[A Sport and a Pastime]]''.

==Sport==
* The European [[Triathlon]] Championships were also held in the town in 2006.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
* The Fifth Stage of the [[2007 Tour de France]] ended in the town, with the entrance to Autun being a twisting and winding route down from a nearby mountain.

==Tourism==
{{Main|Tourism in Saône-et-Loire}}
[[File:Autun remparts.jpg|thumb|240px|Autun remparts (defensive walls from the Roman Era)]]
[[File:Kathedrale in Autun01.jpg|thumb|240px|Tour des Ursulines near the Autun Cathedral]]
[[File:Bellerophon riding Pegasus and killing the Chimera, Roman mosaic, the Rolin Museum in Autun, France, 2nd to 3rd century AD.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Bellerophon]] riding [[Pegasus]] and slaying the [[Chimera (mythology)|Chimera]], central medallion of a [[Roman mosaic]] from Autun, [[Musée Rolin]], 2nd to 3rd century AD]]
Autun's best-known museum is the [[Musée Rolin]]. It houses historical artistic collections.

Near Autun, tourists can also see:
* The [[Arboretum de Pézanin]], one of the richest forest collection in France
* The [[Rock of Solutré]]
* [[Cluny Abbey]] and its medieval city
* [[Charolles]] and the "boeuf charolais"
* [[Mâcon]], [[Paray-le-Monial]]

==Sister cities==
Autun has [[sister city]] relationships with the following municipalities.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! City
! Country
! Year
|-
| [[Stevenage]]
| United Kingdom
| 1975
|-
| [[Ingelheim am Rhein]]
| Germany
| 
|-
| [[Kawagoe, Saitama|Kawagoe]]
| Japan
| 2002<ref name="twincities">{{cite web|url=https://www.city.kawagoe.saitama.jp/koryucenter/j/friendly/autun.htm |script-title=ja: フランス共和国ブルゴーニュ州 オータン市 |year=2003 |publisher=Kawagoe International Center |location=Japan |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426050735/http://www.city.kawagoe.saitama.jp/koryucenter/j/friendly/autun.htm |archive-date=2008-04-26 |access-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Arévalo]]
| Spain
| 2005
|}

==See also==
* [[Abbey of St Andoche, Autun]]
* [[Abbey of Saint-Jean-le-Grand]]
* [[Communes of the Saône-et-Loire department]]
* [[Morvan Regional Natural Park]]
* [[Musée Rolin]]
* [[Les Télots Mine]]
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Autun]]
* [[Épinac coal mine]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Westermann, ''Großer Atlas zur Weltgeschichte'' (in German)

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Autun}}
* [http://www.autun.com/ Official website] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://france-for-visitors.com/burgundy/morvan/autun.html Visiting Autun (tourist map and photos)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070302181023/http://www.paradoxplace.com/Photo%20Pages/France/Burgundy%20Champagne/Autun/Autun.htm Adrian Fletcher's Paradoxplace – Autun Cathedral St-Lazare Photo Pages]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180307113231/http://tsiaa.org.uk/ The Stevenage-Ingelheim-Autun Association]}}

{{Saône-et-Loire communes}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Archaeological sites in France]]
[[Category:Communes of Saône-et-Loire]]
[[Category:Romanesque architecture in Burgundy]]
[[Category:Subprefectures in France]]
[[Category:Aedui]]
[[Category:Gallia Lugdunensis]]
[[Category:Burgundy]]