Ville de Veauche

In medieval times, the town first appeared under the name of "Velchia".
It only adopted its present-day form in the middle of the 16th century after the decree of François 1 imposing the use of French as the offi cial language throughout the entire territory. In 1794, its name was written Vauche. The creation of the commune was almost certainly a result of the existence of a very ancient road between Feurs and Saint-Rambert. Many industrialists from Saint-Etienne took advantage of the town’s location to build their homes in this region overlooking the Loire and the Forez Plain. The Church of Veauche Bourg or the Church of Saint-Pancrace, a listed Historical Monument, is one of the few French buildings from the pre-Roman period of the second half of the 10th century. In 1883, Veauche saw the emergence of the Cité Saint-Laurent workers’ housing estate, named after the patron saint of fi recrafts. Thanks to the glassworks, business began to thrive in Veauche. Today, O.I Manufacturing specialises in making top-of-the-range bottles there. Tours are available by appointment. n 2006, the Rond Point des Verriers ("the Glassmakers’ Roundabout") was opened, reminding everyone of the origins of the Cité Saint-Laurent.