imported>Tacyarg: /* Conspicuous people affiliated to the commune */ section heading

2025-04-17T12:06:49Z

Conspicuous people affiliated to the commune: section heading

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Saint-Python
|commune status = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
|image = Saint-Python (Nord).jpg
|caption = Aerial shot of Saint-Python in 1984.
|image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Saint-Python, Nord.svg
|arrondissement = Cambrai
|canton = Caudry
|INSEE = 59541
|postal code = 59730
|mayor = Georges Flamengt<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term = 2020–2026
|intercommunality = CC Pays Solesmois
|coordinates = {{coord|50.1906|3.4825|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m = 85
|elevation min m = 58
|elevation max m = 117
|area km2 = 7.43
|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}

'''Saint-Python''' ({{IPA|fr|sɛ̃ pitɔ̃}}; officially spelt '''Sainct-Pieton''' and '''St-Piton''' during different periods preceding 1800) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Nord (French department)|Nord]] [[Departments of France|department]] in northern [[France]].<ref name=cog>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/59541-saint-python INSEE commune file]</ref> It was named after [[Piatus of Tournai]]. Its inhabitants are called Saint-Piatiens or Piatonnais.

== Toponymy ==
* In 1176, a [[Leprosarium]] Title of [[Cambrai]] first mentions ''''''Santus Piatus'.'''''
* ''''''Sancto Piato'''''' is found in a letter by [[:fr:Roger de Wavrin|Roger de Wavrin]], [[:fr:Liste des évêques et archevêques de Cambrai|évêque de Cambrai]] in 1182 and in the '''Communal Charter of [[Solesmes, Nord|Solesmes]]''' in 1202.
* ''''''Python'''''' is a deformation of 'Piatus or Piat'. The church of the commune is also under the name of '''Saint-Piat''' also named Piat de Seclin or [[Piatus of Tournai]], thus confirming the origin of the name of the village.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Eugène Mannier, Études étymologiques, historiques et comparatives sur les noms des villes, bourgs et villages du département du Nord|last=Mannier|first=Eugène|publisher=Auguste Aubry, Libraire-Éditeur|year=1861|location=Paris}}</ref>

==Heraldry==
{{Blazon-arms
|img1=Blason ville fr Saint-Python, Nord.svg
|legend1=Arms of Saint-Python
|text=The arms of Saint-Python are [[blazon]]ed :<br />''Ermine, 3 lozenges gules.''
}}

== History ==
{{Prose|section|date=April 2019}}

=== Chronology ===
The following chronologically-ordered dates mark the historical events which had the most impact on Saint-Python:
*57 BC: The [[Roman legion|legions]] of [[Julius Caesar]] marched on the Mourmont, a ''[[lieu-dit]]'' between Saint-Python and [[Solesmes, Nord|Solesmes]] to lead the [[Battle of the Sabis]], and were nearly defeated.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Turquin|first=Pierre|date=1955|title=The Battle of the Sabis (La Bataille de la Selle – du Sabis)|journal=Les Études Classiques|volume=23/2|pages=111–157}}</ref>
*1074: Saint [[Lietbertus]] donated lands and properties located in Saint-Python to the Abbaye Saint-André du Cateau in [[Le Cateau-Cambrésis]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Recherches Sur Le Hainaut Ancien (Pagus Hainoensis) Du Viie Au Xiie Siecles|last=Duvivier|first=C.|publisher=HACHETTE LIVRE|year=1865|isbn=9782012621978|location=Paris}}</ref>
*1185: Saint-Python was set on fire by [[Philip I, Count of Flanders]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Histoire Ecclésiastique Et Profane Du Hainaut|last=Hossart|first=Philippe|publisher=Lelong|year=1792|location=bibliothèque de l'État de Bavière}}</ref>
*April 1263: Founding of a chapel belonging to Abbaye Saint-André.<ref>{{Cite book|title=History of Cateau-Cambresis|last=Meresse|first=Abbe|publisher=Lorisse|year=2004|isbn=9782877607728}}</ref>
*24 February 1416: The [[Burgundian (party)|Burgundians]] are housed in Saint-Python.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Guerres et brigandages au XVe siècle en Hainaut, Pays d'Avesnes, Thiérache et Ardennes|last=Deloffre|first=Guy|publisher=Mémoire de la Société archéologique et historique d'Avesnes|year=1985|location=Paris}}</ref>
*1437–1440: The ''[[écorcheurs]]'' <small>(French: [[Help:IPA/French|[ekɔʁʃœʁ]]], <abbr>lit.</abbr> "flayers")</small> devastated the country including Saint-Python.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Guerre, État et société à la fin du Moyen Âge. Études sur les armées des rois de France (1337–1494)|last=Contamine|first=Philippe|publisher=Éditions de l'École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS)|year=2004|location=Paris|pages=450, 334}}</ref>
*1450: The [[Plague (disease)|plague]] struck Saint-Python at least in 1450 and around 1669 (as quoted in [[Solesmes, Nord|Solesmes]]' Public Registers).
*1536: Reconstruction of Saint-Python Church.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
*1544–1581: The village is periodically abandoned during French occupation of the region, with some inhabitants taking refuge in [[Cambrai]], [[Valenciennes]] or [[Le Quesnoy]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=État de la France, ou les vrais marquis, comtes, vicomtes et barons|last=de Combles|first=Waroquier|publisher=Clousier|year=1785|location=National Library of the Netherlands}}</ref>
*[[File:Cateau-Cambresis.jpg|thumb|alt=|337x337px|Traités du [[Le Cateau-Cambrésis|Cateau-Cambrésis]] (1559) involving '''St-Python'''.]]1559: [[:fr:Traités du Cateau-Cambrésis|Traités du Cateau-Cambrésis]]: Peace between [[Henry II of France]] and [[Philip II of Spain]].
*7 July 1637: [[Landrecies]] and [[Le Cateau-Cambrésis|Le Cateau]] taken by the French (Turenne). Saint-Python is declared to have been abandoned after taking Landrecies.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
[[File:Rocroi, el último tercio, por Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau.jpg|thumb|300x300px|[[Battle of Rocroi]] (1643) by [[Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau]].]]
*7 November 1659: The [[Treaty of the Pyrenees]] was signed to end the [[Franco-Spanish War (1635–59)|1635–1659 Franco-Spanish war]]. Saint-Python then becomes French.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
*2 May 1668: [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]]: France takes over [[Douai]], [[Saint-Amand-les-Eaux]], [[Lille]].
*March 1675: Saint-Python is obliged to deliver to many cities many carts full of fodder for the king such as in [[Le Quesnoy]], [[Avesnes-les-Aubert]], Fayt, [[Charleroi]], [[Ors]], [[Philippeville]]).{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
*On 10 August 1678: [[Treaties of Peace of Nijmegen]] (Traités de Paix de Nimègue)that gives France [[Valenciennes]], [[Bouchain]], [[Cambrai]], [[Bavay]] and [[Maubeuge]].
*1757: Construction of the current Saint-Python's Church.
*1790: Saint-Python's first municipal election. The first mayor is Charles J. Marlier.
* 1793: Several conflicts occur when Catholic clerics refuse to follow the [[Decadary Cult]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Religious History of the Department of the North during the Revolution (1789–1802) [Histoire religieuse du département du Nord pendant la Révolution (1789–1802)]|last=Peter; Poulet|first=chanoine J.|publisher=Publivations des Facultés Catholiques (Volume I. From the end of the Ancien Régime to 9 Thermidor year II – 28 July 1794).|year=1930|location=Lille}}</ref>
* 1832, 1848 and 1866: Cholera raged in Saint-Python.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
* 9 May 1944: Saint-Python hit by Allied bombing.

== 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, 3rd Prince of Ligne|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://michel.blas.free.fr/st-python/seigneurs.htm|title=Lords of St. Python (Seigneurs à Saint-Python)|last=Blas|first=Michel|date=9 November 2018|website=St-PYTHON.|access-date=22 November 2018}}</ref>{{Self-published source|date=April 2019}}

[[File:Saint python center of the village.jpg|left|thumb|Saint-Python's Church and Townhall.]]

On 3 February 1790, voters elected Mr. Duplessy, vicar of St-Python, as public prosecutor, but he refused. On 23 February 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 [[Fleur-de-lis|fleurs-de-lis]] inside a circle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://michel.blas.free.fr/st-python/election_1790.htm|title=Election de 1790|last=Blas|first=Michel|date=9 November 2018|website=Saint-Python|access-date=13 November 2018}}</ref>{{Self-published source|date=April 2019}}

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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/elections/presidentielle-2017/resultats-elections/ville-saint-python-59730_59541.html|title=Résultats de l'élection présidentielle 2017 Saint-Python (59730), Nord|date=8 May 2017|work=L'Express|access-date=15 May 2017}}</ref>

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[[File:Saint-Python Rue de Solesmes.jpg|thumb|Saint-Python: Rue de Solesmes (1905)]]

== Geography ==
The town of '''Saint-Python''' is located in the department of [[Nord (French department)|Nord]] part of the [[Hauts-de-France]] region. It belongs to the [[arrondissement of Cambrai]] (19 km) and the [[canton of Caudry]] (11 km).<ref name=cog/> The town is a member of the [[:fr:Communauté de communes du Pays Solesmois|'Communauté de communes du Pays Solesmois]]', which brings together 15 municipalities ([[Beaurain]], [[Bermerain]], [[Capelle]], [[Escarmain]], [[Haussy]], [[Montrécourt]], [[Romeries]], [[Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon]], Saint-Python, [[Saulzoir]], [[Solesmes, Nord|Solesmes]], [[Sommaing]], [[Vendegies-sur-Écaillon]], [[Vertain]] and [[Viesly]]) for a total population of just under 15,000.
[[File:Saint-Python Rue de Vertain.jpg|thumb|Saint-Python Rue de Vertain (1910)]]

== Population and society ==
In 2019, the municipality had 1,027 inhabitants, a decrease of 0.3% compared to 2008.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/6455183?sommaire=6455209&geo=COM-59541|title=Évolution et structure de la population en 2019: Commune de Saint-Python (59541)|date=2022|publisher=Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/516703/article/2019-01-05/la-friche-sasa-et-la-rue-d-haussy-deux-chantiers-menes-de-front|title=Saint-Python La Friche SASA et la rue d'Haussy, deux chantiers menés de front.|date=5 January 2019|work=La Voix Du Nord|access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref>

== 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, Nord|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|Saint-Vaast-en Cambrésis]] by hiking trails. Several tags are in fact embedded in the tar, plus two labels on the way.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://viaseptemtrionestempli.wordpress.com/saint-python/|title=Saint-Python via septentriones templi|date=15 November 2017|website=Caudry Tourism Office|access-date=23 November 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Saint-Python Leterme Castle.jpg|thumb|The smaller Leterme Castle (1908).|alt=]]

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.

[[File:Saint-Python.jpg|thumb|Saint-Python's Church indoors (1905).]]

== Culture ==

Saint-Python's "Culs de Caudron" celebrations taking place in September and involving the [[:fr:Géants du Nord|Géants du Nord]] has been inscribed by [[UNESCO]] on the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists|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 in Belgium and France|processional giants and dragons]] ([[French language|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 [[:fr:Ducasse|ducasse]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/439579/article/2018-08-31/un-tres-long-week-end-de-fete-avec-les-culs-de-caudrons|title=Saint-Python: A very long week-end of celebrations with the Culs de Caudrons|date=31 August 2018|work=La Voix Du Nord|access-date=5 January 2019}}</ref><br />
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File:Goliath-Mme2005.jpg
File:T'chio Blaise.jpg
File:Trith-Saint-LégerGéantHubert.jpg
File:Géant de Bouvines Philippe Auguste.jpg
File:Babe tisje zoon tisje.jpg
File:Jean le bûcheron (III) J1b.jpg
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== Notable people from the commune ==
*[[:fr:Raymond Poirette|Raymond Poirette]] (1928–1944): He was born on 16 March 1928 in [[Solesmes, Nord|Solesmes]] and died on 2 September 1944 in Saint-Python. He was a [[French Resistance|French Resistant]] and was arrested and shot dead at close range at 16 years old while he was handing out leaflets near '''''‘N° 61 of the Rue d'Haussy''''''. [[Solesmes, Nord|Solesmes]]' resistance network was headed by '''Victor Poirette''', Raymond's older brother, and '''Georges Mailloux'''. Teenagers then served as liaison agents: Raymond Poirette is among them. Their role was to transport documents, weapons, to transmit orders from one point to another. In addition to his role as liaison officer, Raymond participated in some sabotage operations with the aim of hindering the German retreat. As a tribute to the young resistance fighter, several places bear his name, a street in [[Solesmes, Nord|Solesmes]] and a school restaurant in Saint-Python.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/|title=The Raymond-Poirette school restaurant will be inaugurated on October 4 (Le restaurant scolaire Raymond-Poirette sera inauguré le 4 octobre)|last=Rédaction La Voix|date=21 September 2008|work=La Voix Du Nord|access-date=22 May 2011}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
* Louis Boniface, ''Etude sur la signification des noms topographiques de l'arrondissement de Cambrai'', Valenciennes, Impr. Louis Henry, 1866.

==See also==
*[[Communes of the Nord department]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons}}
* {{Official website|http://www.saint-python.fr}}
*[http://michel.blas.free.fr/st-python/st-python.htm History Blog dedicated to Saint-Python].
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311101411/http://www.ign.fr/affiche_rubrique.asp?rbr_id=1087%26CommuneId=55771 Saint-Python] at the [[Institut géographique national]]

{{Nord communes}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Communes of Nord (French department)|Saintpython]]

Saint-Python - Revision history

imported>Tacyarg: /* Conspicuous people affiliated to the commune */ section heading