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.[3]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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..[5]
The Chateau of Ambérieux-en-Dombes (15th century) is registered as an historical monument.[10] 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.[11]
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
^"Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 9 August 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
