Mâcon

Mâcon is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in east-central France. It is the préfecture (capital) of the department. Even if Mâcon is the capital of the department, it is only the second largest city in population after Chalon-sur-Saône. History The Celts from the Aedui (people that lived between the Saône and Loire rivers) had an oppidum and a river port in the present place of Mâcon. This settlement was called Matisco by Julius Caesar. Geography Mâcon is the southernmost capital city in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. It is at 65 kilometres (40 miles) north of Lyon and 400 kilometres (249 miles) from Paris. The city lies on the western (left) side of the Saône river, on the border with the Ain department. It has an area of 27.0 km2 (10.4 sq mi). Its average altitude is 257 m (843 ft); at the city hall, the altitude is 190 m (620 ft). Since 1972, the commune of Mâcon is divided in two parts: the southern part, including the old city, and the northern part. Both parts are surrounded by the communes: Climate The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Charnay-lès-Mâcon, less than 1 km (0.62 mi) to the west of Mâcon and where is the local airport, is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype "Cfb". The average temperature for the year in Charnay-lès-Mâcon is 11.7 °C (53.1 °F). The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 21.1 °C (70.0 °F). The coolest month, on average is January, with an average temperature of 2.8 °C (37.0 °F). The average amount of precipitation for the year in Charnay-lès-Mâcon is 866.1 mm (34.10 in). The month with the most precipitation on average is October with 96.5 mm (3.80 in) of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is August with an average of 50.8 mm (2.00 in). Population The inhabitants of Mâcon are known, in French, as Mâconnais (women: Mâconnaises ). With a population of 33,456, Mâcon has a population density of 1,237 inhabitants/km2. Evolution of the population in Mâcon Administration Mâcon is a prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department since 1800. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Mâcon and the administrative centre (French: chef-lieu) of two cantons: Mâcon-1 formed by the communes Charnay-lès-Mâcon and Sancé, and part of Mâcon, with 22,266 inhabitants (2014). Mâcon-2 formed by the commune Varennes-lès-Mâcon and part of Mâcon, with 20,566 inhabitants (2014). It is part of the intercommunality Mâconnais Beaujolais Agglomération (French: Communauté d'agglomération Mâconnais Beaujolais). Twinned and partner towns Mâcon is twinned with: Places of interest Some interesting places in Mâcon are: The Mâcon Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Vincent de Mâcon) in the town centre The Saint-Pierre Church (Èglise Saint-Pierre) in the Place Saint-Pierre The Museum of Fine Arts (former Ursuline Convent) Hôtel Senecé (Lamartine museum) People from or related to Mâcon Alphonse de Lamartine (1790-1869), poet Georges Duby (1919–1996), historian Gallery Related pages Arrondissement of Mâcon Communes of the Saône-et-Loire department References Other websites Ville de Mâcon - official website Archived 2011-02-08 at the Wayback Machine (in French) Tourist office website Mâconnais Beaujolais Agglomération website Archived 2017-07-27 at the Wayback Machine (in French)