Saint-Affrique

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For the town in the Tarn département, see Saint-Affrique-les-Montagnes.
Saint-Affrique

Coat of arms
Saint-Affrique
Coordinates: 43°57′33″N 2°53′14″E / 43.9592°N 2.8872°E / 43.9592; 2.8872Coordinates: 43°57′33″N 2°53′14″E / 43.9592°N 2.8872°E / 43.9592; 2.8872
Country France
Region Midi-Pyrénées
Department Aveyron
Arrondissement Millau
Canton Saint-Affrique
Government
 • Mayor (2001–2008) Alain Fauconnier (PS)
Area
 • Land1 110.96 km2 (42.84 sq mi)
Population (2008)
 • Population2 8,112
 • Population2 Density 73/km2 (190/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 12208 / 12400
Elevation 279–720 m (915–2,362 ft)
(avg. 330 m or 1,080 ft)

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.

Saint-Affrique (Occitan: Sant Africa) is a commune in the Aveyron department in Southern France.

History

Saint-Affrique grew in the 6th century around the tomb of St. Africain, bishop of Comminges. In the 12th century a fortress was built on the neighboring rock of Caylus. The possession of Saint-Affrique was vigorously contested during the French Wars of Religion. It was eventually occupied by the Huguenots until 1629, when it was seized and dismantled by a royal army.

Geography

The Sorgues, a tributary of the Dourdou de Camarès, flows through the commune and crosses the town. The Dourdou de Camarès flows northwestward through the western part of the commune and forms part of its northwestern border.

Population

Historical population
Year Pop.  ±%  
1793 4,527—    
1800 5,590+23.5%
1806 5,348−4.3%
1821 6,008+12.3%
1831 6,336+5.5%
1836 6,421+1.3%
1841 6,208−3.3%
1846 6,760+8.9%
1851 6,618−2.1%
1856 6,760+2.1%
1861 6,807+0.7%
1866 7,046+3.5%
1872 7,214+2.4%
1876 7,622+5.7%
1881 7,598−0.3%
1886 7,177−5.5%
1891 7,223+0.6%
1896 7,026−2.7%
1901 6,699−4.7%
1906 6,571−1.9%
1911 6,495−1.2%
1921 6,211−4.4%
1926 6,181−0.5%
1931 6,592+6.6%
1936 6,881+4.4%
1946 7,455+8.3%
1954 7,236−2.9%
1962 7,142−1.3%
1968 7,674+7.4%
1975 8,223+7.2%
1982 8,475+3.1%
1990 7,798−8.0%
1999 7,507−3.7%
2008 8,112+8.1%

Sights

An old bridge over the Sorgue and some megaliths in the neighborhood, especially, the dolmen of Tiergues, are of antiquarian interest.

Personalities

Saint-Affrique was the birthplace of :

International relations

Saint-Affrique prize

The Grand Prix of Saint-Affrique has been awarded to noted Parisian painters since the second part of the 20th century. It consists of a month-long stay of at the hotel of famous chef François Decucq during which the painters could visit and paint one of the most beautiful county of France. Some prize winners: Daniel du Janerand, Maurice Boitel.

See also

References

    External links

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