Charlieu, commune in Loire, France
Charlieu is a small commune in the Loire department of France, located in the arrondissement of Roanne. The town features medieval stone buildings, narrow lanes, and houses the Charlieu Abbey with its distinctive towers and thick walls that have survived for centuries.
The abbey was founded in 875 and became connected to the famous Cluny Abbey in 930, making Charlieu an important spiritual center. The first written record appeared in 994, and the town grew at a crossroads between Paris and Lyon.
The name Charlieu comes from an early saint and continues to shape the town's identity today. Local residents keep alive their craft traditions, especially silk weaving, which has been central to community life since 1827.
Charlieu is easily accessible, about 20 minutes from Roanne by car and less than 2 hours from Lyon. The town is best explored on foot, with small cafes to rest and local shops for souvenirs scattered along the streets.
The Silk Museum, opened in 1992, displays the history of silk production in a building from the 1700s. This craft made the town economically important from 1827 onward and is still highly valued today.
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