Saint-Flour, Cantal

Saint-Flour () is a commune in south central France in the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It is a subprefecture of the Cantal department. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of the same name.

History
Saint-Flour is the historical capital of the old region of Haute-Auverge ("Upper Auvergne"), one of the two divisions of Auvergne.

After the creation of the Cantal department on 4 March 1790, Saint-Flour was named as the capital (prefecture) of the new department alternating with Aurillac. In 1794, Saint-Flour became the only capital but, in 1795, the capital was moved to Aurillac and Saint-Flour became a subprefecture.

Geography
Saint-Flour is in the eastern part of Cantal. The city is divided in two parts:
 The upper city () is on a volcanic dike
 The lower city () is on the sides of the Ander river, a right tributary of the Truyère river.

The commune of Saint-Flour has an area of  and is surrounded by the communes Alleuze, Andelat, Coren, Roffiac, Saint-Georges and Villedieu.

+ Saint-Flour and its neighboring communes 350px|Map of the commune of Saint-Flour

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

Population
The inhabitants of Saint-Flour are known, in French, as Sanflorain (women: Sainfloraine).

With a population of 6,643, Saint-Flour has a population density of  inhabitants/km2.

Evolution of the population in Saint-Flour

Saint-Flour forms the urban area of Saint-Flour, one of the seven urban areas of Cantal, with a population of 6,626 inhabitants (2013) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Saint-Flour, formed by 17 communes with a population of 13,024 inhabitants and an area of .

 Administration 
Saint-Flour is a subprefecture of the Cantal department, the capital of the arrondissement of Saint-Flour and the administrative centre () of three cantons: 
 Saint-Flour-1 : 23 communes + part of Saint-Flour, with 9,696 inhabitants  (2014)
 Saint-Flour-2 : 18 communes + part of Saint-Flour, with 9,171 inhabitants (2014)

It is part of the intercommunality Saint-Flour Communauté.

Sister cities
Saint-Flour is twinned with:
  Orléans, France, since 1986
  Haselünne, Germany, since 1992

Gallery

Related pages
 Arrondissement of Saint-Flour
 Communes of the Cantal department

References

Other websites

 City Council website 
 Office de Tourisme Intercommunautaire des Pays de Saint-Flour  

Category:Subprefectures in France
Category:Communes in Cantal