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Adur
District Twinning Association
Riom,
France
Riom is an old town situated in the Auvergne region of France that has retained its surround of boulevards. It has many attractive houses many made out of lava rock. Formerly a rival to Clermont it has remained the judicial city for the region of Puy-de-Dome S. Central France. It has distilleries, tobacco plants and factories making pharmaceuticals.
Being
of Gallic origin, the Roman Ricomagus grew around the collegiate Church of
St. Amable (1077) restored. It was the capital of the dukes of Auvergne.
The regional museum of Auvergne situated in Riom contains a remarkable collection of craft and ploughing instruments as well as furniture, household objects and costumes reflecting the traditional landscape of the province.
The
town hall encloses an attractive 16c courtyard, with two guardhouses decorated
with ogive-vaulted galleries. There are two bronzes by Rodin (one called
Gallia Victrix depicting Camille Claudel) and a plaque of enamelled lava
rock reproducing Joan of Arcs letter to the people of Reims.
The
old houses that flank Rue de l'Horloge have some attractive windows and some
remarkable courtyards.
The only buildings to retain the memories of Riom's finest hours with the Duke Jean de Berry are the court of justice and old château chapel, the chancel of which is lit up with some remarkable 15c stained-glass windows. Riom's population is approx 19,500.
