Roye, Somme

Roye (Roé) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Geography
Roye is situated at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 road, on the banks of the Avre, some 30 mi southeast of Amiens.

History



 * In 1634, religious refugees from Seville, Spain, known as the illuministes tried to establish themselves in France. They claimed to be inspired by celestial messages. Pierre Guérin, curate of Saint-Georges, was converted and himself created many disciples, called "les Guérinistes". The Catholic Church sought out and executed all of them by 1635.
 * In 2015, a mass shooting took place in a travelers' camp in which four people died.

Places of interest

 * Church of Saint Pierre. Rebuilt in concrete in 1930 after considerable damage during the First World War. The 12th century choir and apse and the 15th century stained-glass windows were all saved.
 * The Hôtel de Ville (Town hall), built between 1775 and 1777 by the architect Pierre Dercheu was blown-up with dynamite by the retreating Germans on 17 March 1917. The new building, by local architect Arthur Régnier, was completed in 1932. It is reminiscent of the original by Dercheu.

Personalities

 * Gracchus Babeuf, a protagonist during the French Revolution was born nearby and lived and worked here.
 * Pierre Guérin, an illuministe preacher. Curate of Saint-Georges church, Roye
 * Abbot Jules Corblet (1819–1886), hagiographer for the diocese of Amiens.