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
CountryFrance
RegionOccitanie
DepartmentLot
ArrondissementFigeac
CantonFigeac-1 and 2
IntercommunalityGrand-Figeac
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) André Mellinger
Area
1
35.16 km2 (13.58 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2017)[1]
9,792
 • Density280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
46102 /46100
Elevation170–451 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.

History

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.

Notable people

Jean-François Champollion, the first translator of Egyptian hieroglyphics, was born in Figeac, where there is a Champollion Museum. 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.[2] 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.

Media

Louis Malle's 1974 film, Lacombe Lucien, was filmed in Figeac.

See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. 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.

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Figeac" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.


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