Saint-Girons, Ariège

**Saint-Girons** (Gascon: _Sent Gironç_) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region, southwestern France. It is the capital of the former French province of _Couserans_ that forms the western part of Ariège.

## History

Unlike its close neighbour Saint-Lizier, Saint-Girons is not an ancient city; there was however a _lucus_ (a "sacred forest") on its present territory.

The city is named after Saint Girons, a saint from fifth-century Landes who evangelized in southwestern France. In the ninth century some of his relics were supposedly buried in Saint Girons' Church, around which the city later developed.

## Geography

Saint-Girons is in the center of a basin at the foot of the Pyrenees and at the confluence of the Salat with the Lez and Baup rivers, in the Ariège department, southern France. The _commune_ is part of the Regional Natural Park Pyrenees Ariégeoises.

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

The _commune_ of Saint-Girons is surrounded by the _communes_:

### Climate

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

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## Population

The inhabitants of Saint-Girons are known, in French, as _Saint-Gironnais_ or _Gironnais_ (women: _Saint-Gironnaises_ or _Gironnaises_).

Saint-Girons has a population of 6,284 (2014), and population density of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>.

**Evolution of the population in Saint-Girons**

Saint-Girons forms, with other 3 _communes_, the urban area of Saint-Girons with a population of 9,652 inhabitants (2013) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Saint-Girons, formed by 39 _communes_ with a population of 18,222 inhabitants (2013) and an area of .

## Administration

Saint-Girons is a subprefecture of the Ariège department, the capital of the _arrondissement_ of Saint-Girons and the administrative centre () of the canton Couserans Ouest, with 10,686 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.

It is part of the intercommunality _Couserans - Pyrénées_ ().

### Twinned and partner towns

Saint-Girons is twinned with:
- Vielha e Mijaran, Lleida, Spain
- Albese con Cassano, Como Italy

## Sites of interest

Some important buildings are:
- The **Saint-Girons church**
- The **Saint-Valier church**
- The **Palais de Justice**

## Related pages

- Arrondissement of Saint-Girons
- Communes of the Ariège department

## Other websites

- City Council website
- Pays Couserans
- Saint-Girons in Histariège - Histoire et Patrimoine de l'Ariège

## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Saint-Girons
- **commune status**: Subprefectures in France, Subprefecture and Communes of France, commune
- **image coat of arms**: Blason ville fr Saint-Girons (Ariège).svg
- **image**: Saint-Girons and Sourroque.jpg
- **caption**: View of Saint-Girons and the Sourroque mountain
- **arrondissement**: Saint-Girons
- **canton**: Couserans Ouest
- **intercommunality**: Couserans - Pyrénées
- **mayor**: François Murillo
- **term**: 2014–2020
- **elevation m**: 391
- **elevation min m**: 387
- **elevation max m**: 1200
- **area km2**: 19.13
- **population demonym**: Saint-Gironnais
- **population**: 6284
- **population date**: 2014
- **insee**: 09261
- **postal code**: 09200
- **website**: [http://www.ville-st-girons.fr/ www.ville-st-girons.fr]