Rodez

**Rodez** () is a commune in southwestern France in the department of Aveyron, of which it is its prefecture. It is in the region of Occitanie.

It was the capital of Rouergue, a former French province. Rodez is also the capital of 3 _cantons_: Rodez-1, Rodez-2 and Rodez-Onet.

## History

Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by Celtic people, the Ruteni. Here they built an _oppidum_ (fortified place) which, after the Roman occupation, was named _Segodunum_ ("Fortified place", "high hill"). The town later was given the name of _Civitas Rutenorum_ ("City of the Ruteni") and then only _Ruteni_ and, finally, Rodez.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the city was taken by the Visigoths and then by the Franks; in 725, the Moors took the city and destroyed the old church. Later it was occupied by the armies of the Dukes of Aquitaine and of the Counts of Toulouse. English troops occupied Rodez during the Hundred Years War.

With the creation of the Aveyron department in 1790, Rodez became préfecture of the department.

## Geography

The _commune_ of Rodez is on the western part of the central plateau (_Massif Central_) of France. The Aveyron river and the _Auterne_ stream flow through the city.

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

Rodez is surrounded by the _communes_ Onet-le-Château, Sainte-Radegonde, Le Monastère and Olemps.

### Climate

The climate of Rodez, in the Köppen climate classification, is **Cfb** - Oceanic climate with template summers.

## Population

The inhabitants of Rodez are known, in French, as _Ruthénois_ (women: _Ruthénoises_).

With a population of 24,088, Rodez has a population density of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>.

**Evolution of the population in Rodez**

Rodez forms, together with 5 other _communes_, the urban area of Rodez with a population of 49,716 inhabitants (2013) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Rodez, formed by 39 _communes_ with a population of 85,181 inhabitants and an area of .

## Administration

Rodez is the prefecture of the Aveyron department, the capital of the _arrondissement_ of Rodez and the administrative centre () of three cantons:
- Rodez-1, with 11,905 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.
- Rodez-2, with 12,051 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.
- Rodez-Onet, with 14,105 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.

It is part of the intercommunality _Rodez Agglomération_ ().

### Sister cities

Rodez is twinned with:
- Pigüé, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
- Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany
- Fderîck, Mauritania

## Places of interest

Some interesting places in Rodez are:
- The **Rodez Cathedral** () is a Roman Catholic cathedral;  is the main religious building of the department.
- The **Episcopal Palace** (), built in the 15th century.
- The **Saint-Amans Church**, built in the 12th century and then completely rebuilt from 1758 to 1761 with materials from the original building.
- The ***Hôtel de la préfecture***, built in the first half of the 18th century. It is now home to the prefecture of the Aveyron department.

## Related pages

- Arrondissements of the Aveyron department
- Communes of the Aveyron department

## Other websites

- City Council website
- Office de Tourisme - Rodez
- Rodez Agglomération

## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Rodez
- **commune status**: Prefectures in France, Prefecture and Communes of France, commune
- **image coat of arms**: Blason ville france Rodez.svg
- **image coat of arms size**: 70px
- **image**: Rodez view.jpg
- **caption**: A general view of Rodez.
- **arrondissement**: Rodez
- **canton**: Rodez-1
Rodez-2
Rodez-Onet
- **intercommunality**: Rodez Agglomération
- **mayor**: Christian Teyssèdre
- **term**: 2014-2020
- **elevation m**: 572
- **elevation min m**: 501
- **elevation max m**: 643
- **area km2**: 11.18
- **population demonym**: Ruthénois
- **population**: 24088
- **population date**: 2014
- **insee**: 12202
- **postal code**: 12000
- **website**: [http://www.ville-rodez.fr/ http://www.ville-rodez.fr/]