Confolens
Confolens (Occitan: Confolents[1]) is a commune in southwestern France. Confolens is the administrative centre of a largely rural area, which has had an important growth of tourism in recent years.
Confolens | |
|---|---|
 View of Confolens from the Sainte-Catherine hill | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
Location of Confolens  | |
  Confolens  Confolens | |
| Coordinates: 46°00′52″N 0°40′24″E / 46.0144°N 0.6733°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Department | Charente |
| Arrondissement | Confolens |
| Canton | Charente-Vienne |
| Intercommunality | Confolentais |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2014-2020) | Jean-Noël Dupré |
| Area 1 | 23.63 km2 (9.12 sq mi) |
| Population (2013) | 2,721 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Confolentais |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 16106 /16500 |
| Elevation | 127–222 m (417–728 ft) (avg. 152 m or 499 ft) |
| Website | www.mairie-confolens.fr |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
It is one of the two subprefectures of the Charente department and the capital of the canton of Charente-Vienne.
History
On 1 January 2016, the former commune Saint-Germain-de-Confolens was merged with the commune of Confolens.[2]
Geography
Confolens is at the confluence of the Vienne and Goire rivers. The name of this place comes from the Latin word confluens that means "confluence".[3]
The city is at 65 km (40 mi) from Angoulême, 55 km (34 mi) from Limoges and 70 km (43 mi) from Poitiers, the three largest cities that are closest to Confolens.
It has an area of 23.63 km2 (9.12 sq mi) and its average altitude is 152 m (499 ft); at the city hall, the altitude is 150 m (490 ft).[4]
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The communes that are around Confolens are Brillac, Esse, Saint-Maurice-des-Lions, Ansac-sur-Vienne, Hiesse and Lessac.
Climate
The climate of Confolens, in the Köppen climate classification, is Cfb - Oceanic climate with template summers.
Population
With a population of 2,721,[5] Confolens has a population density of 115 inhabitants/km2.
The inhabitants of Confolens are known, in French, as Confolentais (women: Confolentaises).[6]
Administration
Confolens is a subprefecture of the Charente department since 1800. It is also the capital of the canton of Charente-Vienne.[7]
Gallery
Saint Barthélemy church
Pont-Vieux
Bridge over the Goire river
People from Confolens
- Émile Roux (1853-1933), a medical doctor and bacteriologist who was a close collaborator of Louis Pasteur.
Twin cities
Related pages
References
Other websites
- Ville de Confolens - official website (in French)