Montluçon

Montlucon is a commune in central France, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, on the Cher river. It is the commune in the department with largest population, although the department's prefecture 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
Montlucon 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. Montlucon and other Burgundian lands went back to the French crown in 1529, and Henry IV further improved the defenses.
Geography
The commune of Montlucon is on the northwestern part of the Auvergne-Rhone-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.
Montlucon is surrounded by the communes Saint-Victor, Desertines, Saint-Angel, Neris-les-Bains, Lavault-Sainte-Anne, Premilhat and Domerat.
Climate
The Koppen climate classification type for the climate at Montlucon is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype "Cfb".
Population
The inhabitants of Montlucon are known, in French, as Montluconnais (women: Montluconnaises).
With a population of 37,289, Montlucon is the largest city of the Allier department. It has a population density of inhabitants/km2.
Evolution of the population in Montlucon
Montlucon forms, with other 6 communes, the urban area of Montlucon with a population of 56,928 inhabitants (2014) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Montlucon, formed by 38 communes, with a population of 78,702 inhabitants (2014) and an area of .
Administration
Montlucon is a subprefecture of the Allier department since 1800. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Montlucon and the administrative centre () of four cantons:
Montlucon-1 formed by 1 commune and part of Montlucon, with 16,633 inhabitants (2014).
Montlucon-2 formed by 18 communes and part of Montlucon, with 25,837 inhabitants (2014).
Montlucon-3 formed by 14 communes and part of Montlucon, with 19,289 inhabitants (2014).
Montlucon-4 formed by 6 communes and part of Montlucon, with 16,556 inhabitants (2014).
It is part of the intercommunality Montlucon Communaute.
Sister cities
Montlucon is twinned with:
Antsirabe, Madagascar
Hagen, Germany
Leszno, Poland
Places of interest
Some interesting places in Montlucon are:
The Church of Saint-Pierre (Eglise Saint-Pierre de Montlucon) is a Roman Catholic church built in the 12th century, with a Romanesque architecture.
The Church of Notre-Dame (Eglise Notre-Dame de Montlucon), another Roman Catholic church built in the 15th century, with a Gothic architecture.
The Dukes of Bourbon castle (Chateau des ducs de Bourbon) is a castle. It was built beginning in 1070.
Gallery
People from or related to Montlucon
Marx Dormoy (1888-1941), politician.
Andre Messager (1853-1929), composer.
Audrey Tautou (1976-), actress, was raised in Montlucon.