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 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**

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## 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

File:Privas (Ardèche, Fr) Le Mézayon, panneau du pont.JPG|Bridge over the Mézayon stream.
File:Privas (Ardèche, Fr) mairie.JPG|Town hall of Privas.
File:Mairie de Privas.jpg|Town hall of Privas.
File:Privas (Ardèche, Fr) une des églises.JPG|*Saint-Thomas* church.
File:Eglise de Privas - panoramio.jpg|Privas church.
File:Privas (Ardèche, Fr) un temple.JPG|Protestant temple in Privas.
|*Monument aux morts de la Résistance''

## 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