Montluçon

Montluçon is a "commune" in central France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, on the Cher river. It is the "commune" in the department with largest population, although the department's "préfecture" is in the smaller city of Moulins.
The town is the historical capital of the old province of "Bourbonnais" and was part of the mediaeval Duchy of Bourbon.
History.
Montluçon was built in the Middle Ages. The first mention of a place called "Monte Lucii" is from the eleventh century. Guillaume, son of Archambaud IV of Bourbon, built a castle on a small rocky hill on the Cher river.
The town, which formed part of the duchy of Bourbon, was taken by the English in 1171, and by Philip II of France in 1181; finally, in the 14th century, the English had to leave the town.
In the 14th century, Louis II de Bourbon re-built the castle and walls of the town. Montluçon and other Burgundian lands went back to the French crown in 1529, and Henry IV further improved the defenses.
Geography.
The "commune" of Montluçon is on the northwestern part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, on the northern part of the Massif Central. The city is on the Cher river.
The "commune" has an area of , and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .
The city is from Moulins, from Clermont-Ferrand and from Paris.
Montluçon is surrounded by the "communes" Saint-Victor, Désertines, Saint-Angel, Néris-les-Bains, Lavault-Sainte-Anne, Prémilhat and Domérat.
Climate.
The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Montluçon is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype "Cfb".
Population.
The inhabitants of Montluçon are known, in French, as "Montluçonnais" (women: "Montluçonnaises").
With a population of 37,289, Montluçon is the largest city of the Allier department. It has a population density of inhabitants/km2.
Evolution of the population in Montluçon
Montluçon forms, with other 6 "communes", the urban area of Montluçon with a population of 56,928 inhabitants (2014) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Montluçon, formed by 38 "communes", with a population of 78,702 inhabitants (2014) and an area of .
Administration.
Montluçon is a subprefecture of the Allier department since 1800. It is also the capital of the "arrondissement" of Montluçon and the administrative centre () of four cantons:
It is part of the intercommunality "Montluçon Communauté".
Sister cities.
Montluçon is twinned with:
Places of interest.
Some interesting places in Montluçon are: