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Montélimar (Municipality, Drôme, France)

Flag of Montélimar - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 18 January 2025

Presentation of Montélimar
Flag of Montélimar
- Former flag of Montélimar

See also:

Presentation of Montélimar

The municipality of Montélimar (40,356 inhabitants in 2021; 4,681 ha) is a commune in the Drôme department. It is the second-largest town in the department after Valence.

The site where the city of Montélimar stands today has been inhabited since the Celtic era. It was reconstructed during the Roman reign, including a basilica, aqueducts, thermae and a forum. Belonging to the kingdom of Burgundy-Provence, the country of Montélimar entered the Holy Roman Empire in 1032. This period saw the rise of the Adhémar-de-Monteil family, who built a vast palace and gave their name to the city. In 1449, Montélimar was integrated into Dauphiné by the future King Louis XI. In the 19th century, the ramparts were demolished, the main public garden was designed, and the railway reached Montélimar in 1854.

The old royal road of the Comtat has become the famous "Nationale 7" road. The local nougat is one of the 13 desserts of Provence and highly appreciated throughout the country. Travellers used to buy nougat de Montélimar on their way to the south of France (or when returning) as the city is next to the Rhône and to the primary road Nationale 7. After the construction of the A7 highway to reduce traffic jams, many nougat factories had been forced to close as tourists no longer stopped in Montélimar but bypassed it instead. In 1981, the TGV service (high speed train) was set up, with a stop in the station of Montélimar.

Olivier Touzeau, 18 January 2025

Flag of Montélimar

The coat of arms of Montélimar is blazoned:
Gules an orb Azure banded and encircled Argent with a bordure Or and crossed of the same.

The flag is white wih the coat of arms: photo (2023). It has a mural crown, branches, and the words : SIGILLUM MONTIS ADHEMARIS (details of the words from this picture of the city hall).

Olivier Touzeau, 18 January 2025

Former flag of Montélimar

Flag of Montélimar - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 18 January 2025

In the past, a vertically divided red and blue flag had been reported (source: Vexilla nostra n°23, p.143). See emblemes.free.fr website by Pascal Vagnat.

Olivier Touzeau, 18 January 2025