Montluçon

**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/km<sup>2</sup>.

**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 <small>(2014)</small>.
- Montluçon-2 formed by 18 _communes_ and part of Montluçon, with 25,837 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.
- Montluçon-3 formed by 14 _communes_ and part of Montluçon, with 19,289 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.
- Montluçon-4 formed by 6 _communes_ and part of Montluçon, with 16,556 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.

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.

## 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

## Other websites

- City council website
- Office de Tourisme de la Vallèe de Montluçon

## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Montluçon
- **image flag**: Flag of Montlucon.svg
- **image coat of arms**: Blason ville fr Montluçon(03).svg
- **image**: Montluçon château 1.jpg
- **caption**: Palace of the Dukes of Bourbon, Montluçon.
- **arrondissement**: Montluçon
- **canton**: Chief town of 4 cantons:
 * Montluçon-1
 * Montluçon-2
 * Montluçon-3
 * Montluçon-4
- **intercommunality**: Montluçon Communauté
- **mayor**: Daniel Dugléry
- **term**: 2014-2020
- **elevation m**: 279
- **elevation min m**: 194
- **elevation max m**: 364
- **area km2**: 20.67
- **population demonym**: Montluçonnais
- **population**: 37289
- **population date**: 2014
- **insee**: 03185
- **postal code**: 03100
- **website**: [http://www.mairie-montlucon.fr/ www.mairie-montlucon.fr]