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La Roche-sur-Foron in the 19th century
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The restoration of the Sardinian Monarchy in 1815 triggered off a new era of architecture, neo-classical style, very characteristic of the political leanings of its monarchs. The City of La Roche did not escape from this period of construction, with among others, the Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville) and the indoor market-place (La Grenette). This signalled the birth of urbanism, and the natural progression to the "3rd La Roche", integrating the church with the present day "Place de la République". In 1860 the entire territory of Savoy was restored to France. That said, the City continued to flourish ! |
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In 1885 La Roche became the first city in Europe to install electric street lighting!
Extract from the Figaro newspaper of 16th December penned by their enthusiastic special envoy, Pierre Giffard: |
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It is not Paris, nor London, nor Berlin, nor Moscow, nor any such City : it is a tiny City of "Savoie", a mere 10 leagues from Mont-Blanc; it is not even the capital of an "arrondissement"; it is the capital of a "canton" answering to the name of La Roche-sur-Foron. Do you know La Roche? La Roche-sur-Foron in "Haute-Savoie"? No? Well, this town, which I baptise as "The City of Light", is the first in Europe to have decreed that electric lighting must be distributed on its streets, in its squares, on its monuments and in its homes.
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