Riom is a historic city in the Auvergne région of France. It is a commune and sous-préfecture of the Puy-de-Dôme département. Population (1999): 18,548. Until the French Revolution, Riom was the capital of the province of Auvergne. Capital Clermont-Ferrand Area 26,013 km² Regional President Pierre-Joël Bonté (PS) (since 2004) Population   - 2004 estimate   - 1999 census   - Density (Ranked 19th) 1,327,000 1,308,878 51/km² (2004) Arrondissements 14 Cantons 158 Communes 1,310 Départements Allier Cantal Haute-Loire Puy-de-Dôme... France is divided into 26 régions: 21 of these are in the continental part of metropolitan France, one is Corse on the island of Corsica (although strictly speaking Corse is in fact a territorial collectivity, not a région, but is referred to as a région in common... The commune (in French: commune, word appeared in the 12th century, from Medieval Latin communia, gathering of people sharing a common life, from Latin communis, things held in common) is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. ... Subprefecture is an administrative level that is below prefecture or province. ... Puy-de-Dôme is a département in the center of France named after the famous dormant volcano, the Puy-de-Dôme. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties and are now grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas régions. ... The period of the French Revolution is very important in the history of France and the world. ... Auvergne coat of arms Auvergne (Occitan: Auvèrnha) was the name of an historically independent county in the center of France, as well as later a province of France. ...

Miscellaneous

Sights

Two Riom's public squares are place Jean-Baptiste Laurent and place du pré-Madame, on which stands two grands fountains in homage to Desaix Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux (1768 - June 14, 1800), was a French military leader. ...

Births

Riom was the birthplace of:

• Pierre Victor, baron Malouet (1740-1814), publicist and politician
• Gilbert Romme (1750-1795), politician

Pierre Victor, baron Malouet (February 11, 1740 - September 7, 1814), French, publicist and politician, was born at Riom (Puy-de-Dôme), the son of a lawyer. ... Events May 31 - Friedrich II comes to power in Prussia upon the death of his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. October 20 - Maria Theresia of Austria inherits the Habsburg hereditary dominions (Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and present-day Belgium). ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... A politician is an individual involved in politics. ... Drawing of Gilbert Romme Gilbert Romme (March 26, 1750-June 17, 1795) was a French politician. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex to... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Twin towns

• Algemesi, Spain
• Nördlingen, Germany
• Viana do Castelo, Portugal
• West Sussex, England
• Zywiec, Poland

Nördlingen is a town in Bavaria, Germany. ... Viana do Castelo is both a city and a district in north-west Portugal. ... West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex (with Brighton and Hove), Hampshire and Surrey. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Ethnicity... Żywiec is a town in southern Poland with 32,300 inhabitants (2001). ...

External links

• Riom - Official site for the city of Riom (in French)
• Joan of Arc's letter to Riom - Translation of a letter dictated by Joan of Arc to the people of Riom on November 9, 1429.
• The Musée de Veygoux is a museum dedicated to the French Revolution and Desaix