Mâcon

Macon is a commune in the Saone-et-Loire department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region in east-central France. It is the prefecture (capital) of the department.
Even if Macon is the capital of the department, it is only the second largest city in population after Chalon-sur-Saone.
History
The Celts from the Aedui (people that lived between the Saone and Loire rivers) had an oppidum and a river port in the present place of Macon. This settlement was called Matisco by Julius Caesar.
Geography
Macon is the southernmost capital city in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte. It is at north of Lyon and from Paris.
The city lies on the western (left) side of the Saone river, on the border with the Ain department.
It has an area of . Its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .
Since 1972, the commune of Macon is divided in two parts: the southern part, including the old city, and the northern part. Both parts are surrounded by the communes:
Climate
The Koppen climate classification type for the climate at Charnay-les-Macon, less than to the west of Macon and where is the local airport, is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype "Cfb".
The average temperature for the year in Charnay-les-Macon is . The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of . The coolest month, on average is January, with an average temperature of .
The average amount of precipitation for the year in Charnay-les-Macon is . The month with the most precipitation on average is October with of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is August with an average of .
Population
The inhabitants of Macon are known, in French, as Maconnais (women: Maconnaises ).
With a population of 33,456, Macon has a population density of inhabitants/km2.
Evolution of the population in Macon
Administration
Macon is a prefecture of the Saone-et-Loire department since 1800. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Macon and the administrative centre () of two cantons:
Macon-1 formed by the communes Charnay-les-Macon and Sance, and part of Macon, with 22,266 inhabitants (2014).
Macon-2 formed by the commune Varennes-les-Macon and part of Macon, with 20,566 inhabitants (2014).
It is part of the intercommunality Maconnais Beaujolais Agglomeration ().
Twinned and partner towns
Macon is twinned with:
Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany, since 26 June 1956
Crewe and Nantwich, United Kingdom, since 1957
Overijse, Belgium, since 28 August 1960
Macon, United States, since 1972
Lecco, Italy, since 12 May 1973
Alcazar de San Juan, Spain, since 15 March 1980
Eger, Hungary, since 11 May 1985
Pori, Finland, since 11 May 1990
Santo Tirso, Portugal, since 20 June 1992
Places of interest
Some interesting places in Macon are:
The Macon Cathedral (Cathedrale Saint-Vincent de Macon) in the town centre
The Saint-Pierre Church (Eglise Saint-Pierre) in the Place Saint-Pierre
The Museum of Fine Arts (former Ursuline Convent)
Hotel Senece (Lamartine museum)
People from or related to Macon
Alphonse de Lamartine (1790-1869), poet
Georges Duby (1919-1996), historian
Gallery
Related pages
Arrondissement of Macon
Communes of the Saone-et-Loire department
References
Other websites
Ville de Macon - official website
Tourist office website
Maconnais Beaujolais Agglomeration website
Departmental capitals in France
Communes in Saone-et-Loire