Sarlat-la-Canéda

Sarlat-la-Canéda

Sarlat-la-Canéda
Administration
Country France
Region Aquitaine
Department Dordogne
Arrondissement Sarlat-la-Canéda
Canton Sarlat-la-Canéda
Intercommunality Sarladais
Mayor Jean-Jacques de Peretti
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 102–319 m (335–1,047 ft)
(avg. 189 m/620 ft)
Land area1 47.13 km2 (18.20 sq mi)
Population2 9,331  (2008)
 - Density 198 /km2 (510 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 24520/ 24200
Website www.sarlat.fr
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.

Sarlat-la-Canéda (Occitan: Sarlat e La Canedat), or simply Sarlat, is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.

Sarlat is one of the most attractive and alluring towns in southwestern France.

Contents

Geography

The town of Sarlat is in a region known in France as the Périgord Noir (the Black Périgord, as opposed to the Green Périgord, the White Périgord, and the Purple Périgord).

History

Sarlat is a medieval town that developed around a large Benedictine abbey of Carolingian origin. The medieval Sarlat Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Sacerdos.

Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and one of the towns most representative of 14th century France. It owes its current status on France's Tentative List for future nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage site to the enthusiasm of writer, resistance fighter and politician André Malraux, who, as Minister of Culture (1960–1969), restored the town and many other sites of historic significance throughout France. The centre of the old town consists of impeccably restored stone buildings and is largely car-free.

Population

Historical populations
Year Pop. ±%
1968 8,801
1975 9,765 +11.0%
1982 9,670 −1.0%
1990 9,909 +2.5%
1999 9,751 −1.6%
2008 9,331 −4.3%

Economy

Transport

Personalities

Sarlat was the birthplace of:

Cultural references

The town and region have featured in two major Hollywood films: Ridley Scott's The Duellists (1978) based on Joseph Conrad's Napoleonic tale; and more recently Timeline (2003) adapted from Michael Crichton's time-travel novel, set in 14th century France.

Other movies partly shot in Sarlat include:

International relations

See also

References

External links