Roanne, town, Loire département, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes région, east-central France, on the Loire River. The town is located 40 miles (64 km) west-northwest of Lyon. Founded in the Romano-Gallic age, it was originally called Rodumna. The 11th-century castle-donjon is the only surviving remnant of its ancient castle. The centre of the town is the Carrefour Helvétique (Helvetian Crossroads). The Lycée Jean Puy occupies the former 17th-century Jesuit college.
Roanne is an important commercial and industrial centre. It has a long tradition of textile manufacturing, and, although this activity has declined in importance, Roanne is still noted as a centre for knitwear. Other industries include the manufacture of machinery, armaments, plastics, tires, and foodstuffs. However, services have become the dominant activity of the town. The gorges of the Loire River valley are 2 miles (3 km) south of Roanne, and the scenic Madeleine Range is to the west. Pop. (1999) 38,896; (2014 est.) 35,200.