Castres, Tarn

**Castres** () is a commune in the region of Occitanie, in southwestern France. It is the _sous-prefecture_ (capital) of the _arrondissement_ of the same name in the Tarn department.

Castres is (after Toulouse, Tarbes and Albi) the fourth largest industrial centre of the mainly rural Midi-Pyrénées _région_ and the largest in that part of Languedoc between Toulouse and Montpellier.

## History

The name of the town comes from Latin _castrum_, and means "fortified place".

Castres grew up round the Benedictine abbey of Saint Benoît. Castres became an important stop on the international pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela in Spain because its abbey-church, built in the 9th century, was keeping the relics of Saint Vincent, the renowned martyr of Spain. It was a place of some importance as early as the 12th century, and ranked as the second town of the Albigeois behind Albi.

## Geography

Castres is in southern France, in the southwestern part of the Tarn department, to the north of the Montagne Noire, a mountain range in central southern France. Castres is crossed from north to south by the Agout river, a tributary of the Tarn.

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

Castres is at  southeast of Albi and at  east of Toulouse.

### Climate

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

## Population

The inhabitants of Castres are known, in French, as _Castrais_ (women: _Castraises_).

The city of Castres has a population, in 2014, of 41,382; its population density is of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>.

**Evolution of the population in Castres**

## Administration

Castres is a subprefecture of the Tarn department and the capital of the arrondissement of Castres in the same department. It is also the capital of three _Cantons_:
1. Castres-1, formed with a part of Castres (16,890 inhabitants) <small>(2014)</small>
1. Castres-2, formed with a part of Castres and 6 other _communes_ (15,422 inhabitants) <small>(2014)</small>
1. Castres-3, formed with a part of Castres and the _commune_ Navès (15,319 inhabitants) <small>(2014)</small>

It is part of the intercommunality _Castres - Mazamet_ ().

## Social housing

In the Laden-Petit-Train district. Demolition of the apartment block located on Boulevard Albert 1er will begin on September 19, 2025. New housing, including single-family homes, and a new road will be built.

## Education

- Institut national universitaire Jean-François Champollion

## Sister cities

Castres is twinned with:
- Linares, Spain
- Wakefield, England
- Butare, Rwanda

## Related pages

- Arrondissement of Castres
- Communes of the Tarn department

## Other websites

- City Council website
- Greater Castres-Mazamet Council official website

## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Castres
- **commune status**: Subprefectures in France, Subprefecture and Communes of France, commune
- **image**: (Castres) Maisons sur l'Agoût vues du pont Neuf vers le pont Henri Sizaire.jpg
- **caption**: Houses by the Agout River
- **arrondissement**: Castres
- **canton**: Canton of Castres-1, Castres-1, Canton of Castres-2, 2 and Canton of Castres-3, 3
- **insee**: 81065
- **postal code**: 81100
- **population demonym**: Castrais
- **image coat of arms**: Blason ville fr Castres (Tarn).svg
- **mayor**: Pascal Bugis
- **term**: 2008–2014
- **intercommunality**: Castres-Mazamet
- **elevation m**: 170
- **elevation min m**: 151
- **elevation max m**: 367
- **area km2**: 98.17
- **population**: 41382
- **population date**: 2014
- **website**: [http://www.ville-castres.fr/ www.ville-castres.fr]