# Ambérieux-en-Dombes

Ambérieux-en-Dombes (French pronunciation: , literally Ambérieux in Dombes) is a commune in the department of Ain in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France.

## Geography

As its name suggests, Ambérieux-en-Dombes is a part of the Dombes country in Ain. It is located some 10 km east of Villefranche-sur-Saone and 35 km north of Lyon. There are several access roads to the commune: the D904 comes from Savigneux in the west through the heart of the commune and the town and continues east to Lapeyrouse; the D66 road from Saint-Trivier-sur-Moignans in the north passes through the town and continues south to Saint-Jean-de-Thurigneux; the D660 comes from Rancé in the south-west to the town; and the D82 comes from Monthieux in the south-east and continues to Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne in the north-east. All of these roads intersect in or very near the town.
There is a network of country roads covering the commune which is entirely farmland outside the built-up areas. Apart from the town there is the hamlet of La Jonchay to the north-east of the town.
There are many étangs or ponds in the commune, particularly in the east but almost no waterways.
vteNeighbouring communes and villages :
Villeneuve
Saint-Trivier-sur-Moignans
Sainte-Olive
Savigneux
Ambérieux-en-Dombes
Villars-les-Dombes
Rancé
Monthieux
Lapeyrouse :

## History

The village was known as Ambariacum in the 6th century and the land belonged to the castles of the first Burgundian kings.
On 13 July 1922 a train of the Compagnie des Tramways de l'Ain returning pilgrims from Ars-sur-Formans derailed between Ambérieux-en-Dombes and Lapeyrouse leaving one dead and several injured.

### Heraldry

| Arms of Ambérieux-en-Dombes | The official emblem is still to be determined. Blazon: Party per fess, the first Or, a tower of gules port open charged with a dexter hand dorsed in benediction over a mallet and traversed by an antique crown of nine points with viscount's pearls all of Or, the tower supported by two horses rearing in sable; the second azure charged with a heron of argent with left leg raised.. |

## Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Ambérieux-en-Dombes
| From | To | Name |
| 1995 | 2001 | Jean Giroux |
| 2001 | 2014 | Bernard Ravoire |
| 2014 | Present | Pierre Pernet |

## Population

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Ambarrois or Ambarroises in French.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1793 | 553 | — |
| 1800 | 637 | +2.04% |
| 1806 | 390 | −7.85% |
| 1821 | 654 | +3.51% |
| 1831 | 644 | −0.15% |
| 1836 | 652 | +0.25% |
| 1841 | 650 | −0.06% |
| 1846 | 755 | +3.04% |
| 1851 | 744 | −0.29% |
| 1856 | 737 | −0.19% |
| 1861 | 818 | +2.11% |
| 1866 | 887 | +1.63% |
| 1872 | 823 | −1.24% |
| 1876 | 848 | +0.75% |
| 1881 | 879 | +0.72% |
| 1886 | 882 | +0.07% |
| 1891 | 862 | −0.46% |
| 1896 | 852 | −0.23% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1901 | 835 | −0.40% |
| 1906 | 805 | −0.73% |
| 1911 | 805 | +0.00% |
| 1921 | 698 | −1.42% |
| 1926 | 690 | −0.23% |
| 1931 | 618 | −2.18% |
| 1936 | 593 | −0.82% |
| 1946 | 625 | +0.53% |
| 1954 | 570 | −1.14% |
| 1962 | 588 | +0.39% |
| 1968 | 627 | +1.08% |
| 1975 | 756 | +2.71% |
| 1982 | 848 | +1.65% |
| 1990 | 1,156 | +3.95% |
| 1999 | 1,408 | +2.22% |
| 2009 | 1,592 | +1.24% |
| 2014 | 1,627 | +0.44% |
| 2020 | 1,782 | +1.53% |
Source: EHESS (1793-1999) and INSEE :

## Culture and heritage
### Sites and monuments

* The Chateau of Ambérieux-en-Dombes (15th century) is registered as an historical monument. It was built between 1370 and 1376 (dendrochronological study) during the reign of Humbert V of Thoire and Villars. It is located in the centre of the village today and still has four towers - three square towers 19 metres tall and a round tower of small diameter which served as a prison. The dungeon has been completely restored with the installation of a new roof in 2010.
* The War Memorial has the feature of being topped by a rooster.
* The War Memorial.
* Door to the Castle.
* View of the Village Church.
* Ruins of the Castle
* Historical monument plaque on the Chateau

### Notable people linked to the commune

* Laurent Capponi (1512-1573), Lord of Ambérieux-en-Dombes
* Jean Saint-Cyr (1899-1990), French politician, born in Ambérieux-en-Dombes
* Gundobad, the 6th-century king of the Burgundians, born in the commune