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Coordinates: 45°07′43″N, 00°39′40″W

Commune of Blaye
Location
Coordinates	45°07′43″N, 00°39′40″W
Administration
Country	France
Region	Aquitaine
Department	Gironde
Arrondissement	Blaye
Canton	Canton of Blaye
Statistics
Elevation	0 m–41 m (avg. 7 m)
Land area¹	6.42 km²
Population² (1999)	4,666
- Density	726/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	33058/ 33390
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel).

Blaye is a commune in the Gironde département of southwestern France.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Sights 4 Economy 5 Education 6 Miscellaneous 7 See also 8 External links and references

Blaye is located on the right bank of the Gironde estuary (which is some 3 km wide at this point), 56 km north of Bordeaux by rail.

In ancient times Blaye (Blavia) was a port of the Santones. Tradition states that the hero Roland was buried in its basilica, which was on the site of the citadel. It was early an important stronghold which played an important part in the wars against the English (who burnt it in 1352) and the Religious Wars. The duchess of Berry was imprisoned in its fortress in 1832-1833.

The town was formerly named Blaye-et-Sainte-Luce and was renamed Blaye on June, 1961.

The town has a citadel built by Vauban on a rock beside the river, and embracing in its enceinte ruins of an old Gothic château. The latter contains the tomb of Charibert II, king of Aquitaine, and son of Clotaire II. Blaye is also defended by the Fort Paté on an island in the river and the Fort Médoc on its left bank, both of the 17th century.

It has a small river-port, and carries on trade in wine, brandy, grain, fruit and timber. The industries include the building of small vessels, distilling, flour-milling, and the manufacture of oil and candles. Fine red wine is produced in the district.

Several schools are located in Blaye [1].

Public schools include:

• Ecole Maternelle Pierre Bergeon
• Ecole Maternelle Lucien Grosperrin
• Ecole Elementaire Pierre Malbeteau
• Ecole Elementaire Andre Vallaeys

The town is the seat of a sub-prefect, and has tribunals of first instance and of commerce and a communal college.

• French wine
• Bordeaux wine regions

• Town council website (in French)
• Personal website about Blaye (in French)
• Webpage about Blaye Citadel
• Another webpage about Blaye Citadel
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.