| Les Salles | |
| Commune Status: | Commune |
| Image Coat Of Arms: | Blason ville fr Les Salles (Loire).svg |
| Arrondissement: | Montbrison |
| Canton: | Boën-sur-Lignon |
| Insee: | 42295 |
| Postal Code: | 42440 |
| Mayor: | Jean-Hervé Peurière[1] |
| Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Coordinates: | 45.8486°N 3.7944°W |
| Elevation M: | 690 |
| Elevation Min M: | 636 |
| Elevation Max M: | 963 |
| Area Km2: | 25.22 |
Les Salles (in French pronounced as /le sal/) is a commune in the Loire department in central France.
Les Salles is a part of the Forez region and is located to the extreme west of the Loire department. The territory represents an area of 2521 ha.
The territory is composed of:
The main rivers are the Royon stream, the stream of La Goutte and the stream of Bareille which will combine to form further down the stream of Les Salles.
The village is dotted with many lakes: La Goutte, Royon, La Plagnette, Goutoule, Guirande, St. Claude, Relange, Rullion, Traversieres ... Note also the presence of peatlands, the most extensive is located at Souillat.
The basement is largely granitic (type monzogranite) with a limestone area on the side of Fialins and Fours à Chaux (calcareous tufa element)
The earliest citation of the name of the town dates from about the year 1000 in the cartulary of Savigny: Ecclesia de Sales. Found in another edition of this book even a citation in 1225: Ecclesia de Salis and 1361: Sancti Petri di Salis. Until the Revolution the town was called St Pierre des Salles.
The experts are somewhat divided on the origin of the name
- To Dauzat name comes from the Germanic word "Saal" room - Similarly for Louis Pierre Augereau, the name comes from the word "room" in which former French designated the seat of a lordship, a mansion or a fortified house. This word derives from late Latin "sala" after borrowing from Frankish "sal" which resulted in German, "Saal" bedroom castle. - To Vachet it derive from the Latin "olla" pots, jars, even "Aula": courtyard home - Others see a merger with St. Francois de Sales. - Some derive the name from the Latin "Saltus" wooded place - Another theory derives the name "Willow" and especially his translation of Germanic "Salt" - Charles Jacquet, local historian, makes about him, the Assuming an origin linked to the Latin word "sala" which in his time meant hotellerie, tavern. It refers to a bridge located along the Roman road Lyon - Bordeaux happening in the town and that was somehow behind the village. Still, to date, no explanation is unanimous.
Les Bataillouses: In November 1567, a group of Protestants, led by Poncenat is defeated by the Catholics of the Marquis de La Chabre . This battle cost the lives of some 300 soldiers. (ref: Les guerres religieuses en Auvergne - Andre IMBERDIS)
Previous mayors:
Current mayor: Jean-Hervé Peurière
Football : ASCLS (Association Sportive Chausseterre Les Salles) created in 1973. Colors Yellow and Blue.