Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat (,, alternatively Sent Liunard de Noblac), often simply referred to as Saint-Léonard, is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in west-central France, on a hill above the river Vienne. It is named after the 6th-century Saint Leonard of Noblac. The commune of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat covers the town of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat and a number of small villages and hamlets, including Lajoumard. In 2021, the commune had a population of 4,332.

History

Amid the French Revolution, the town was renamed Léonard-sur-Vienne (lit. "Leonard-on-Vienne").

Population

Inhabitants are known as Miaulétous (masculine) and Miaulétouses (feminine) in French.

Sights

Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites connected with the routes to Santiago de Compostela. It retains the Romanesque collegial church and its belltower, 52 m tall. Dating partly from the 11th century, the church is a listed historic monument. Its old houses follow a medieval street pattern, with many streets converging in a public space by the former abbey church. In the 19th century, a papermill and a porcelain manufactory were added to its commerce. The place also attracts visitors as an overnight stop on the Tour de France. The town is known for its native son, the scientist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac (1778–1850); there is a small museum in his honor.

Notable people

Notable people linked to Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat include: