Riom comes from Ricomagus, the "rich market". Built at the foot of the Chaîne des Puys mountain range, the town grew in the5th century with the influx of pilgrims who came to honor the relics of Saint Amable, the town's first parish priest, who founded a sanctuary and baptistery here. Riom's rise to prominence was revived in the 13th century, when it became the administrative capital of the Royal Lands of Auvergne, then capital of the Duchy of Auvergne. It passed into the hands of Jean I de Ier de Bourbon in the 16th century, and was gradually overtaken by the rise of Clermont. Riom remained the capital of the Auvergne province until the French Revolution. In 1942, Riom was the setting for the trial of Front Populaire politicians, including Léon Blum, Édouard Daladier, General Gamelin and others, accused by the Vichy regime of being responsible for the 1940 defeat. The trial was suspended after the accusers became confused. Riom, now the sub-prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department, is still home to the courts and the Court of Appeal. The town boasts no fewer than 70 listed monuments. On a tour of the town, the Hôtel de Ville, the Basilique Saint-Amable and the Sainte-Chapelle are must-sees. From the top of the Tour de l'Horloge, you can see the roofs of the townhouses, revealing the architectural marvels of the region's former capital. Among the many events organized each year, two major cultural seasons stand out: "Accès Soirs" in winter, and "Éclats de Fête" in summer.

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