Montluçon is a commune in central France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, on the Cher river. It is the commune in the department with largest population, although the department's préfecture is in the smaller city of Moulins.

The town is the historical capital of the old province of Bourbonnais and was part of the mediaeval Duchy of Bourbon.

History
Montluçon was built in the Middle Ages. The first mention of a place called Monte Lucii is from the eleventh century. Guillaume, son of Archambaud IV of Bourbon, built a castle on a small rocky hill on the Cher river.

The town, which formed part of the duchy of Bourbon, was taken by the English in 1171, and by Philip II of France in 1181; finally, in the 14th century, the English had to leave the town.

In the 14th century, Louis II de Bourbon re-built the castle and walls of the town. Montluçon and other Burgundian lands went back to the French crown in 1529, and Henry IV further improved the defenses.

Geography 
The commune of Montluçon is on the northwestern part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, on the northern part of the Massif Central. The city is on the Cher river.

The commune has an area of , and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .

The city is  from Moulins,  from Clermont-Ferrand and  from Paris.

Montluçon is surrounded by the communes Saint-Victor, Désertines, Saint-Angel, Néris-les-Bains, Lavault-Sainte-Anne, Prémilhat and Domérat.

Climate 
The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Montluçon is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype "Cfb".

Population
The inhabitants of Montluçon are known, in French, as Montluçonnais (women: Montluçonnaises).

With a population of 37,289, Montluçon is the largest city of the Allier department. It has a population density of  inhabitants/km2.

Evolution of the population in Montluçon

Montluçon forms, with other 6 communes, the urban area of Montluçon with a population of 56,928 inhabitants (2014) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Montluçon, formed by 38 communes, with a population of 78,702 inhabitants (2014) and an area of .

Administration 
Montluçon is a subprefecture of the Allier department since 1800. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Montluçon and the administrative centre () of four cantons:
 Montluçon-1 formed by 1 commune and part of Montluçon, with 16,633 inhabitants (2014).
 Montluçon-2 formed by 18 communes and part of Montluçon, with 25,837 inhabitants (2014).
 Montluçon-3 formed by 14 communes and part of Montluçon, with 19,289 inhabitants (2014).
 Montluçon-4 formed by 6 communes and part of Montluçon, with 16,556 inhabitants (2014).

It is part of the intercommunality Montluçon Communauté.

Sister cities 
Montluçon is twinned with:
  Antsirabe, Madagascar
  Hagen, Germany
  Leszno, Poland

Places of interest
Some interesting places in Montluçon are:
 The Church of Saint-Pierre (Église Saint-Pierre de Montluçon) is a Roman Catholic church built in the 12th century, with a Romanesque architecture.
 The Church of Notre-Dame (Église Notre-Dame de Montluçon), another Roman Catholic church built in the 15th century, with a Gothic architecture.
 The Dukes of Bourbon castle (Château des ducs de Bourbon) is a castle. It was built beginning in 1070.

Gallery

People from or related to Montluçon
 Marx Dormoy (1888-1941), politician.
 André Messager (1853–1929), composer.
 Audrey Tautou (1976-), actress, was raised in Montluçon.

Related pages
 Arrondissement of Montluçon
 Communes of the Allier department

References

Other websites

 City council website 
 Office de Tourisme de la Vallèe de Montluçon 

Communes in Allier
Subprefectures in France