Rodez

**Rodez** () is a commune in southwestern France in the department of Aveyron, of which it is its prefecture. It is in the region of Occitanie.

It was the capital of Rouergue, a former French province. Rodez is also the capital of 3 *cantons*: Rodez-1, Rodez-2 and Rodez-Onet.

## History
Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by Celtic people, the Ruteni. Here they built an *oppidum* (fortified place) which, after the Roman occupation, was named *Segodunum* ("Fortified place", "high hill"). The town later was given the name of *Civitas Rutenorum* ("City of the Ruteni") and then only *Ruteni* and, finally, Rodez.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the city was taken by the Visigoths and then by the Franks; in 725, the Moors took the city and destroyed the old church. Later it was occupied by the armies of the Dukes of Aquitaine and of the Counts of Toulouse. English troops occupied Rodez during the Hundred Years War.

## Geography
The *commune* of Rodez is on the western part of the central plateau (*Massif Central*) of France. The Aveyron river and the *Auterne* stream flow through the city.

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

Rodez is surrounded by the *communes* Onet-le-Château, Sainte-Radegonde, Le Monastère and Olemps.

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

## Population
The inhabitants of Rodez are known, in French, as *Ruthénois* (women: *Ruthénoises*).

With a population of 24,088, Rodez has a population density of  inhabitants/km2.

**Evolution of the population in Rodez**

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 bar:1990 at: 24701 fontsize:S text: 24,701 shift:(-18,5)
 bar:1999 at: 23707 fontsize:S text: 23,707 shift:(-18,5)
 bar:2006 at: 24028 fontsize:S text: 24,028 shift:(-18,5)
 bar:2014 at: 24088 fontsize:S text: 24,088 shift:(-18,5)

Rodez forms, together with 5 other *communes*, the urban area of Rodez with a population of 49,716 inhabitants (2013) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Rodez, formed by 39 *communes* with a population of 85,181 inhabitants and an area of .

## Administration 
Rodez is the prefecture of the Aveyron department, the capital of the *arrondissement* of Rodez and the administrative centre () of three cantons:
* Rodez-1, with 11,905 inhabitants (2014).
* Rodez-2, with 12,051 inhabitants (2014).
* Rodez-Onet, with 14,105 inhabitants (2014).

It is part of the intercommunality *Rodez Agglomération* ().

### Sister cities 
Rodez is twinned with:
*  Pigüé, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
*  Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany
*  Fderîck, Mauritania

## Places of interest
Some interesting places in Rodez are:
* The **Rodez Cathedral** () is a Roman Catholic cathedral;  is the main religious building of the department.
* The **Episcopal Palace** (), built in the 15th century.
* The **Saint-Amans Church**, built in the 12th century and then completely rebuilt from 1758 to 1761 with materials from the original building.
* The ***Hôtel de la préfecture***, built in the first half of the 18th century. It is now home to the prefecture of the Aveyron department.

## Gallery

File:Rodez - Hôtel Le Normant d'Ayssènes -01.JPG|Aveyron prefecture building.
File:12 - Rodez Cathédrale.jpg|Rodez cathedral.
File:Nocturne façade ouest.JPG|Rodez cathedral by night.
File:Rodez-coquelicots480.JPG|Rodez, general view.

## References
## Related pages
* Arrondissements of the Aveyron department
* Communes of the Aveyron department

## Other websites
* City Council website 
* Office de Tourisme - Rodez 
* Rodez Agglomération