Figeac
Figeac (Occitan: Fijac) is a commune in southern France in the region of Occitanie. It is the sous-prefecture (capital) of the arrondissement of the same name in the Lot department.
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Figeac | |
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| View of the old city of Figeac | |
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| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Midi-Pyrénées |
| Department | Lot |
| Arrondissement | Figeac |
| Canton | capital of 2 Cantons |
| Intercommunality | Le Grand Figeac |
| Mayor | André Mellinger[1] (2014-2020) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 170–451 m (558–1,480 ft) (avg. 311 m/1,020 ft) |
| Land area1 | 35.16 km2 (13.58 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 9,820 (2010) |
| - Density | 279/km2 (720/sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 46102/ 46100 |
| Website | www.ville-figeac.fr/ |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
History
In the late ninth century, the King Pepin I of Aquitaine founded a monastery in Figeac; the town developed around the monastery as an important city on the pilgrimage routes. In the 14th century, the walls of Figeac were built.
Figeac is on the via Podiensis, a major medieval pilgrimage trail which is part of the Way of St. James.
Geography
Figeac is on the southwestern edge of the central plateau (Massif Central), north of the valley of the Lot river, on the right bank of the Célé river, a left tributary of the Lot.
The commune has an area of 35.16 km2 (13.58 sq mi) and its average altitude is 311 m (1,020 ft); at the city hall, the altitude is 200 m (660 ft).[2]
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Figeac is surrounded by the communesCamburat, Planioles, Viazac, Lunan, Capdenac, Faycelles, Béduer, Camboulit, Lissac-et-Mouret.
Climate
The climate of Figeac, in the Köppen climate classification, is Cfb - Oceanic climate with template summers.[3]
Population
The inhabitants of Figeac are known, in French, as Figeacois (women: Figeacoises).[4]
With a population of 9,820,[5] Figeac has a population density of 279 inhabitants/km2.
Evolution of the population in Figeac
Figeac forms with other 4 communes the urban area of Figeac, with a population of 16,468 inhabitants (2013) and an area of 78.3 km2 (30.2 sq mi); one of the communes is Capdenac-Gare that belongs to the Aveyron department.[6] This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Figeac, formed by 33 communes with a population of 25,593 inhabitants and an area of 388 km2 (150 sq mi).[7]
Administration
Figeac is a subprefecture of the Lot department, the capital of the arrondissement of Figeac and the administrative centre (French: chef-lieu) of the Figeac-1 and Figeac-2 cantons.
It is part of the intercommunality Le Grand Figeac (French: Communauté de communes du Grand Figeac).
- Jean-François Champollion, the first translator of Egyptian hieroglyphs, was born in Figeac, where there is a Champollion Museum. On the "Place des écritures" ("Square of the Writings"), there is a giant copy of the Rosetta Stone, by Joseph Kosuth.
- The actor Charles Boyer was also born in Figeac.
Sister cities
Figeac is twinned with:
Gallery
Place des écritures, Figeac
Notre-Dame-du-Puy church
View of Figeac from Cingle-Haut
Saint-Thomas' Church
Figeac Media
Saint-Sauveur Church, Figeac, France
Façade du Musée Champollion à Figeac
Obélisque de Figeac
L'aiguille de Lissac ou de Nayrac au Nord Ouest de Figeac
Aiguille du cingle au sud de Figeac
Related pages
References
- ↑ "Conseil Municipal". Ville de Figeac. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- ↑ "Figeac". Map-France.com. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ↑ "Ville de Figeac". Annuaire-Mairie.fr (in French). Retrieved 27 June 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Figeac (46100)" (in French). habitants.fr. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Régions, départements, arrondissements, cantons et communes" (PDF). Populations légales 2014 (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques - INSEE. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Unité urbaine de Figeac (00364)". Comparateur de territoire (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques - INSEE. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Aire urbaine de Figeac (223)". Comparateur de territoire (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques - INSEE. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
Other websites
- City Council website Archived 2011-02-28 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
- Pays de Figeac tourist office (in French)