Privas

Privas is a commune of France, capital (Prefecture) of the Ardèche department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. It is the smallest administrative centre of any department in France.

Today Privas is known for several confectionery made with chestnuts produced in the region, as the marron glacé.

History
When the department of Ardèche was created on 4 March 1790, the capital was Privas alternating with Annonay, Aubenas, Le Bourg(-Saint-Andéol) and Tournon. In September of that year, Privas became the only capital of the department.

 Geography 
The commune of Privas is in the central eastern part of the Ardèche department, in the valley of the Ouvèze river, a tributary of the Rhône river. The commune of Privas is in the centre of a region known as the "Bassin Privadois".

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

The distances from Privas to other cities are:
 Paris, the national capital - ;
 Lyon, the regional capital - ;
 Marseille - ;
 Strasbourg - ;
 Reims - ;
 Bordeaux - ;
 Toulouse - ;
 Montpellier - ;
 Nice - .

+ Privas and its neighboring communes 350px|Map of the commune of Privas

Privas is surrounded by the communes:

 Climate 
The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Largentière is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype "Cfb".

Population
The inhabitants of Privas are known, in French, as Privadois (women: Privadoises).

With a population of 8,313, Privas has a population density of  inhabitants/km2. It is the prefecture with fewest people living in it.

Evolution of the population in Privas

 Administration 
Privas is the prefecture of the Ardèche department since 1800. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Privas and the administrative centre () of the canton Privas, formed by 15 communes, including Privas, with 20,402 inhabitants (2014).

It is part of the intercommunality Privas Centre Ardèche, officially named as Communauté d'agglomération Privas Centre Ardèche.

 Sister cities 
Privas is twinned with:
  Tortona, Italy
  Weilburg, Germany
  Wetherby, United Kingdom
  Zevenaar, Netherlands

Gallery

Related pages
 Arrondissement of Privas
 Communes of the Ardèche department

References

Other websites

 City council website  
 Site de la Communauté d'agglomération Privas Centre Ardèche 

Category:Communes in Ardèche
Category:Departmental capitals in France