Cahors

**Cahors** () is a commune in southwestern France. It is in Occitanie. Cahors is the _prefecture_ (capital) of the Lot department. It is also the capital of 3 _cantons_: Cahors-1, Cahors-2 and Cahors-3.

Cahors was the capital of the old province of Quercy and the people of this city are known, in French, as _cadurciens_ (women: _cadurciennes_). This name comes from the old name of the city, _Carduca_.

## History

Cahors is an ancient town. The people that inhabited the area at the time of the Roman conquest were called _Carduci_ and so the Romans named the town as Divona or _Divona Cadurcorum_, "Divona of the Cadurci"; Divona was a source of water, now called "_fontaine des Chartreux_". The word _Cahors_ comes from _Cadurcorum_.

## Geography

Cahors is located in the southwest of France, in the old province of Quercy, in the valley of the Lot river, and is found in a peninsula () formed by an U-shaped meander of that river which gives its name to the department.

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

The _commune_ is at  north of Toulouse and is surrounded by the _communes_ Mercuès, Calamane, Pradines, Arcambal, Lamagdelaine, Laroque-des-Arcs, Trespoux-Rassiels, Labastide-Marnhac, Le Montat and Flaujac-Poujols.

### Climate

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

## Population

With a population of 19,630, Cahors has a population density of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>.

**Evolution of the population in Cahors**

Cahors forms, together with the _commune_ Pradines, the urban area of Cahors, with a population of 23,090 inhabitants (2013) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Cahors, formed by 44 _communes_ with a population of 44,255 inhabitants (2013) and an area of .

## Administration

Cahors is the prefecture of the Lot department, the capital of the _arrondissement_ of Cahors and the administrative centre () of the Cahors-1, Cahors-2 and Cahors-3 cantons.

It is part of the intercommunality _Le Grand Cahors_ ().

## Places of interest

Some places of interest are:
- _Pont Valentré_ (Valentré Bridge, ), a symbol of the town across the Lot river. It was built between 1308 and 1378.
- _Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Cahors_ (Cahors Cathedral), a national monument in France.
- _Arc de Diane_ (Diane's Arch), remains of Roman baths.
- Saint-Barthélémy Church (14th century).
- Maison Henri IV or Hôtel de Roaldès (15th century).

## Related pages

- Arrondissement of Cahors
- Communes of the Lot department

## Other websites

- Ville de Cahors - Official website
- Office de Tourisme de Grand Cahors  (in English: Grand Cahors Tourist Office )

## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Cahors
- **commune status**: Prefectures in France, Prefecture and Communes of France, commune
- **image flag**: Flag of Cahors.svg
- **image coat of arms**: Blason Ville Cahors fr (Lot).svg
- **image**: Cahors pont Valentre vgen.jpg
- **caption**: Valentré bridge
- **arrondissement**: Cahors
- **canton**: Canton of Cahors-1, Cahors-1
Canton of Cahors-2, Cahors-2
Canton of Cahors-3, Cahors-3
- **insee**: 46042
- **postal code**: 46000
- **mayor**: Jean-Marc Vayssouze-Faure
- **intercommunality**: Le Grand Cahors
- **elevation m**: 122
- **elevation min m**: 105
- **elevation max m**: 332
- **area km2**: 72.48
- **population demonym**: Cadurciens
- **population**: 19630
- **population date**: 2014
- **website**: [http://www.mairie-cahors.fr/ www.mairie-cahors.fr]