Saint-Python
Saint-Python (; officially spelt Sainct-Pieton and St-Piton during different periods preceding 1800) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France named after Piatus of Tournai. Its inhabitants are called Saint-Piatiens or Piatonnais. History. Chronology. The following chronologically-ordered dates mark the historical events which had the most impact on Saint-Python: Government. Until 1790 many different lords owned Saint-Python's lands and properties and had administrative power over the town. Notable lords included Claude Lamoral De Ligne, a nobleman, soldier, and diplomat from the Spanish Netherlands in the service of Philip IV  of Spain and Charles II of Spain, who controlled Saint-Python from 1641 to 1679. On 3 February 1790, voters elected Mr. Duplessy, vicar of St-Python, as public prosecutor, but he refused. On February 23, Etienne Dambrinne was elected prosecutor but already held another office, so the function was given to Mr. Lernou, priest of St-Python. This first municipal act was recorded on a sheet of paper from St-Python's Marlier paper mill, decorated with a drawing of three fleurs-de-lis inside a circle. Georges Flamengt has been mayor of Saint-Python since election in March  2001. In the 2017 French presidential election, Marine Le Pen came in first place in the 2nd (final) round with 59.41% of the votes in Saint-Python, ahead of Emmanuel Macron (En Marche!) who received 40.59% of the votes. 7.21% of voters returned a blank ballot paper. The participation rate was 77.73% for the 2nd round, a decline in turnout of 1.68 points from the first round of the election. <mapframe latitude="50.191792" longitude="3.482494" zoom="15" height="164"> </mapframe> Geography. The town of Saint-Python is located in the department of Nord part of the Hauts-de-France region . It belongs to the 'district of Cambrai' (19 km) and the 'Canton of Caudry' (11 km). The town is a member of the ', which brings together 15 municipalities (Beaurain, Bermerain, Capelle, Escarmain, Haussy, Montrécourt, Romeries, Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon, Saint-Python, Saulzoir, Solesmes, Sommaing, Vendegies-sur-Écaillon, Vertain and Viesly) for a total population of just under 15,000. Population and society. In 2015, the municipality had 995 inhabitants, an increase of 0.4% compared to 2010. In January 2019, mayor Georges Flamengt announced two major social projects: a renovation of Haussy Street and the rehabilitation of a former company building into  social housing units. Education. The town has one public primary school: the École maternelle et élémentaire de Saint-Python. It is contractually regulated by the Academy of Lille. Secondary schools include the public Collège Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the private Catholic Institution Saint-Michel, both located in Solesmes. Places and monuments. One of the paths of Camino de Santiago the "via septentriones templi" passes through the village coming from Haussy. It goes through the municipal park, then the church, before leaving by meandering in the streets towards Saint-Vaast-en Cambrésis by hiking trails. Several tags are in fact  embedded in the tar, plus two labels on the way. Saint-Python has two castles: the Cardon Castle, referred to as "Saint-Python's Castle", and the smaller Leterme Castle. In 1185, Saint-Python's Castle was set on fire by Philip I, Count of Flanders. On 28 September 2007 the castle, which now belongs to the Pavot family, endured another fire devastating the floors and roofs. It was once again restored the following year. Religion. As of 2019, Saint-Piatiens have always been almost exclusively Christians with a minority of atheists. Few Muslim families arrived and settled in the  late 2000s and 2010s in Saint-Python and its neighbouring villages. Culture. Saint-Python’s ‘Culs de Caudron’ celebrations taking place in September and involving the has been inscribed by UNESCO on the lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, originally proclaimed in November 2005 as it is included in the set of folkloric manifestations representing the processional giants and dragons (French: "Géants et dragons processionnels") of Belgium and France. Those gigantic figures, incarnating fictitious or real beings, are inherited from medieval rites and are carried or rolled around to dance in the streets during processions or festivals. The ‘Culs  de Caudron’ often coincide with a .