Lorette () is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the

Loire The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône ...

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

in central

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, in the Gier valley.

Geography

Lorette lies in the valley of the Gier, a coal mining region, on the south bank of the Giers just east of

La Grand-Croix La Grand-Croix () is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Loire department in central France. It lies in the Gier valley. The commune was the main town of the former canton of La Grand-Croix, arrondissement of Saint-Étienne. It lies on ...

. The

Dorlay The Dorlay () is a river that flows through the Loire department, France. It is a tributary of the Gier, which in turn is a tributary of the Rhône. The Gier valley was formerly heavily industrialized with coal and iron mines and factories. Basi ...

river, a tributary of the Gier that rises in

Mont Pilat Mont Pilat or the Pilat massif is a mountainous area in the east of the Massif Central of France. Name The origin of the name "Pilat" is uncertain. The word may have a Latin origin (''Mons Pileatus''). Another legend says that the body of Pontiu ...

, defines the west border of the commune.

History

The region was developed in the 19th century for coal mining. In 1830 the Jackson brothers (Frères Jackson) built a steel works at Assailly in what is now the north of Lorette. As a result of a merger, in 1854 this became part of the Compagnie des Hauts-fourneaux, forges et aciéries de la Marine et des chemins de fer, based in Rive-de-Gier. Lorette was created on 27 April 1847 in response to the development of the steelworks, particularly that of the Jackson Brothers. It includes the old quarters of the municipalities of

Saint-Paul-en-Jarez Saint-Paul-en-Jarez () is a commune in the Loire department in central France. Geography The Dorlay river, a tributary of the Gier that rises in the Pilat massif, flows through the commune. Population Twin towns Saint-Paul-en-Jarez is twin ...

, Saint-Genis-Terrenoire (now Genilac), Rive-de-Gier and

Farnay Farnay () is a commune in the Loire department in central France. Population See also *Communes of the Loire department The following is a list of the 323 communes of the Loire department of France. The communes cooperate in the following ...

Churches

Lorette has two places of worship. Notre Dame, located in the bottom of the town, was completely renovated a few years ago. It is a very light church, since the stained glass has been replaced by large windows. Only two stained glass windows remain above the choir. Currently, it is mainly used in large masses and ceremonies. The John XXIII chapel is located on the main street of the town, just down the road. Shaped as a theater, the choir of the chapel is at the bottom of the steps in a pit. It is used every Sunday for mass.

Population

Personalities

* Étienne Rival born 15 November 1855 - Priest *

Alain Prost Alain Marie Pascal Prost (; born 24 February 1955) is a French retired racing driver and Formula One team owner. A four-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion, from 1987 until 2001 he held the record for most Grand Prix victories until Mich ...

born 24 February 1955 at the clinique Les Berceaux - 4-time

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

champion * Michel Corringe died at Lorette le 2 October 2001 - Singer * Jean Delay born at Lorette 19 October 1879 - Bishop of Marseille