Figeac
Figeac (French pronunciation: [fiʒak]; Occitan: Fijac) is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France. Figeac is a sub-prefecture of the department.
Figeac | |
|---|---|
Subprefecture and commune | |
 A general view of Figeac | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Figeac | |
  Figeac  Figeac | |
| Coordinates: 44°36′31″N 2°01′54″E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Lot |
| Arrondissement | Figeac |
| Canton | Figeac-1 and 2 |
| Intercommunality | Grand-Figeac |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | André Mellinger[1] |
| Area 1 | 35.16 km2 (13.58 sq mi) |
| Population | 9,802 |
| • Density | 280/km2 (720/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 46102 /46100 |
| Elevation | 170–451 m (558–1,480 ft) (avg. 225 m or 738 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Geography
Figeac is on the via Podiensis, a major hiking medieval pilgrimage trail which is part of the Way of St. James. Today, as a part of France's system of trails it is labelled the GR 65. Figeac station is a railway junction with connections to Brive-la-Gaillarde, Toulouse, Aurillac and Rodez.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 9,593 | — |
| 1975 | 10,077 | +0.71% |
| 1982 | 9,667 | −0.59% |
| 1990 | 9,549 | −0.15% |
| 1999 | 9,606 | +0.07% |
| 2007 | 9,994 | +0.50% |
| 2012 | 9,783 | −0.43% |
| 2017 | 9,792 | +0.02% |
| Source: INSEE[3] | ||
Notable people
Jean-François Champollion, the first translator of Egyptian hieroglyphics, was born in Figeac, where there is a Champollion Museum. His father had married a woman from Figeac and opened a bookshop in the village.[4] On the "Place des écritures" (writings place) is a giant copy of the Rosetta stone, by Joseph Kosuth. French explorer and archeologist Théodore Ber was born in Figeac, although he spent most of his adult life in Peru.[5] German film historian Lotte H Eisner hid from the Nazis in Figeac during World War II.
Actor Charles Boyer and football player Vincent Beduer were also born in Figeac.
Economy
This city hosts the headquarters of Figeac Aero.
Media
Louis Malle's 1974 film, Lacombe Lucien, was filmed in Figeac.
See also
References
- "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
- "Populations légales 2019". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 29 December 2021.
- Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- Champollion, cultiver son génie: France Culture https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/grandes-traversees-champollion/1-champollion-cultiver-son-genie-4785021
- Riviale, Pascal (2018). "Un Communard parmi les américanistes : biographie de Théodore Ber". Bérose-Encyclopédie internationale des histoires de l'anthropologie. Bérose. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
External links
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
