Privas

commune in Ardèche, France

Privas is a commune of France, capital (Prefecture) of the Ardèche department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. It is the smallest administrative centre of any department in France.

Privas
A view of Privas.
A view of Privas.
Coat of arms of Privas
Location of Privas
Map
Privas is located in France
Privas
Privas
Privas is located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Privas
Privas
Coordinates: 44°44′09″N 4°35′49″E / 44.7358°N 4.597°E / 44.7358; 4.597
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentArdèche
ArrondissementPrivas
CantonPrivas
IntercommunalityPrivas Centre Ardèche
Government
 • Mayor (2014-2020) Michel Valla
Area
1
12.14 km2 (4.69 sq mi)
Population
 (2014)
8,313
 • Density680/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
DemonymPrivadois
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
07186 /07000
Elevation200–750 m (660–2,460 ft)
(avg. 475 m or 1,558 ft)
Websitewww.mairie-privas.fr
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Today Privas is known for several confectionery made with chestnuts produced in the region, as the marron glacé.

History

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When the department of Ardèche was created on 4 March 1790, the capital was Privas alternating with Annonay, Aubenas, Le Bourg(-Saint-Andéol) and Tournon. In September of that year, Privas became the only capital of the department.[1]

Geography

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The commune of Privas is in the central eastern part of the Ardèche department, in the valley of the Ouvèze river, a tributary of the Rhône river. The commune of Privas is in the centre of a region known as the "Bassin Privadois".

The commune has an area of 12.1 km2 (4.7 sq mi),[2] and its average altitude is 475 m (1,558 ft); at the city hall, the altitude is 298 m (978 ft).[3]

The distances from Privas to other cities are:

Privas and its neighboring communes
 

Privas is surrounded by the communes:

Climate

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The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Largentière is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype "Cfb".

Population

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The inhabitants of Privas are known, in French, as Privadois (women: Privadoises).[4]

With a population of 8,313,[5] Privas has a population density of 685 inhabitants/km2. It is the prefecture with fewest people living in it.

Evolution of the population in Privas

Administration

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Privas is the prefecture of the Ardèche department since 1800. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Privas and the administrative centre (French: chef-lieu) of the canton Privas, formed by 15 communes, including Privas, with 20,402 inhabitants (2014).

It is part of the intercommunality Privas Centre Ardèche, officially named as Communauté d'agglomération Privas Centre Ardèche.

Sister cities

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Privas is twinned with:

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References

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  1. "Historique de l'Ardèche". Le SPLAF (in French). Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  2. "Commune de Privas (07186)". Comparateur de territoire (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques - INSEE. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  3. "City of Privas". Map-France.com. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  4. "Ardèche" (in French). habitants.fr. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  5. "Régions, départements, arrondissements, cantons et communes" (PDF). Populations légales 2014 (in French). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques - INSEE. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

Other websites

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