Figeac

Figeac () is a commune in southern France in the region of Occitanie. It is the sous-prefecture (capital) of the arrondissement of the same name in the Lot department.

History
In the late ninth century, the King Pepin I of Aquitaine founded a monastery in Figeac; the town developed around the monastery as an important city on the pilgrimage routes. In the 14th century, the walls of Figeac were built.

Figeac is on the via Podiensis, a major medieval pilgrimage trail which is part of the Way of St. James.

Geography
Figeac is on the southwestern edge of the central plateau (Massif Central), north of the valley of the Lot river, on the right bank of the Célé river, a left tributary of the Lot.

The commune has an area of  and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .
+ Figeac and its neighboring communes 350px|Map of the commune of Figeac

Figeac is surrounded by the communesCamburat, Planioles, Viazac, Lunan, Capdenac, Faycelles, Béduer, Camboulit, Lissac-et-Mouret.

Climate
The climate of Figeac, in the Köppen climate classification, is Cfb - Oceanic climate with template summers.

Population
The inhabitants of Figeac are known, in French, as Figeacois (women: Figeacoises).

With a population of 9,820, Figeac has a population density of  inhabitants/km2.

Evolution of the population in Figeac

Figeac forms with other 4 communes the urban area of Figeac, with a population of 16,468 inhabitants (2013) and an area of ; one of the communes is Capdenac-Gare that belongs to the Aveyron department. This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Figeac, formed by 33 communes with a population of 25,593 inhabitants and an area of .

 Administration 
Figeac is a subprefecture of the Lot department, the capital of the arrondissement of Figeac and the administrative centre () of the Figeac-1 and Figeac-2 cantons.

It is part of the intercommunality Le Grand Figeac ().

People from or related to Figeac
 Jean-François Champollion, the first translator of Egyptian hieroglyphs, was born in Figeac, where there is a Champollion Museum. On the "Place des écritures" ("Square of the Writings"), there is a giant copy of the Rosetta Stone, by Joseph Kosuth.
 The actor Charles Boyer was also born in Figeac.

Sister cities
Figeac is twinned with:
  Roubaix, France
  Carrara, Italy
  Huesca, Spain

Gallery

Related pages
 Arrondissement of Figeac
 Communes of the Lot department

References

Other websites

 City Council website  
 Pays de Figeac tourist office 

Category:Subprefectures in France
Category:Communes in Lot