Rodez

Rodez
Western façade of Rodez Cathedral
Rodez
Administration
Country France
Region Midi-Pyrénées
Department Aveyron
Arrondissement Rodez
Intercommunality Grand Rodez
Mayor Christian Teyssèdre (PS)
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 501–643 m (1,644–2,110 ft)
(avg. 627 m/2,057 ft)
Land area1 11.18 km2 (4.32 sq mi)
Population2 24,540  (2008)
 - Density 2,195 /km2 (5,690 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 12202/ 12000
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Rodez (Occitan: Rodés) is a town and commune in southern France, in the Aveyron department, of which it is the capital. Its inhabitants are called Ruthénois.

Contents

History

Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by the Celts. After the Roman occupation, the oppidum (fortified place) was renamed Segodunum, while in late Imperial times it was known as Civitas Rutenorum, whence the modern name. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was captured by the Visigoths and then by the Franks, being also ravaged by the Arabs in 725. 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.

However, in medieval times the city's history was marked by strong rivalry between the Counts and the Bishops of Rodez, who exerted their authorities in different sectors of the city, divided by a wall. The counts were able to defy the royal French authority until the submission of count John IV by the future King Louis XI in the 15th century. In the following century bishop François d'Estaing built the Rodez Cathedral.

The last count of Rodez, Henry VI of Rodez, who became Henry IV of France, sold his title to Royal Crown in 1589. The city remained a flourishing merchant centre up to the 18th century, but it lost much of its importance when Villefranche-de-Rouergue was made prefecture capital in the wake of the French Revolution.

Population

Historical population of Rodez
Year 1793 1800 1806 1821 1831 1836 1841 1846 1851 1856
Population 5592 6233 6613 7352 8240 9685 9272 10,936 10,280 10,877
Year 1861 1866 1872 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896
Population 11,856 12,037 12,111 13,375 15,333 15,375 16,122 16,303
Year 1901 1906 1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1946
Population 16,105 15,502 15,386 14,201 15,150 16,195 18,450 20,437
Year 1954 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2008
Population 20,383 20,924 23,328 25,550 24,368 24,701 23,707 24,540

Main sights

The town center is almost exclusively pedestrian and is filled with history, as well as shops and local artisans.

The agglomeration 'Grand Rodez' comprises eight towns : Rodez, Onet-le-Chateau, Druelle, Luc-la-Primaube, Le Monestère, Olemps, Sainte-Radegonde, and Sebezac Concourès.

Gastronomy

There are three weekly farmers' markets. On Wednesday mornings the market is located in Place du Bourg. On Saturday mornings, the market expands into Place de la Cité and Place Emma Calvé (behind the Cathedral). On Friday evenings there is a small farmers' market on the Parking du Sacré Cœur.

Several restaurants serve local specialities, notably aligot, farçous, tripoux, and Roquefort, Laguiole, and Cantal cheeses, as well as red wine from the nearby village of Marcillac. Fouace is a breakfast item, a sweet bread that can be found in many local bakeries.

Economy

Transport

Rodez is served by the nearby Rodez Marcillac Airport, located within the commune of Salles-la-Source. There are daily trains to Paris and Toulouse, as well as other trains and buses connecting Rodez to smaller towns. Once in town, options for getting around include car rental, the local bus system (Agglobus), or on foot.

Notable people

Music and festivals

There are several music venues and festivals in or near Rodez. The association 12 Touch organises two smaller festivals in Luc La Primaube annually. These festivals are Arts en Scène (spring) and Eklekzic (autumn).

Skabazac is probably the best-known music festival, and it takes place in mid-June. Just on the outskirts of Rodez in a town called Sébazac, Skabazac attracted over 30,000 people in 2010, when Cypress Hill headlined. In 2011 the festival's 13th edition was cancelled due to a lack of government funding. In midsummer the Occitan festival, called Estivada, takes place over several days. The festival promotes Occitan culture with food, cultural displays, and live music.

Music venues La Guinguette and Le Studio often host concerts, as does the local amphitheatre, and the local Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture of Rodez and Onet-Le-Château.

Sports

Rodez is home to Rodez AF (called RAF by its fans) of the Championnat National (Third Division). The women's team is in the First Division. Rodez also has rugby, basketball, and handball teams.

Twin towns

See also

References

External links