The first reference to the "Bourg de Charlieu" dates back to 994. It was built to the east of the Abbey on the crossroads of two important routes (the Paris to Lyon road and from the Soâne to the Loire), and was populated by tradesmen and craftsmen.

In 1180, Philippe-Auguste, conscious of Charlieu’s strategic interest, placed Charlieu under his protection and installed a royal Lord. New fortifications were erected around the town and the Abbey which was now a priory.

In the 13^th century, the bourgeois built the Saint Philibert parish church, in a time where the town played an important military role during the war between the Armagnacs (the Kings men) and the Bourguignons. But this era also marked the rerouting of the road traffic and the start of the slow decline of the town.

In 1827, the silk weaving industry set up in Charlieu, replacing the age-old textile industry, provoking a rapid development of the town, which had more than 5000 inhabitants at the end of the 19^th century.

Of its period of splendour, the town has conserved its stone houses dating from the 13^th century. But the most picturesque are the wooden framed with a corbelled construction, which can be dated to the 15^th century. Others date to the renaissance and from the 18^th century.

More than 150 shops and services liven up the numerous roads and areas in bloom which conserve their ancient names.

Two weekly markets (Wednesday and Saturday), the restaurants, the antique dealers, and second-hand shops have come to reinforce the importance of the town centre which has always conserved the town of Charlieu.