Saint-Affrique | |
Commune Status: | Commune |
Image Coat Of Arms: | Blason Saint-Affrique.svg |
Arrondissement: | Millau |
Canton: | Saint-Affrique |
Insee: | 12208 |
Postal Code: | 12400 |
Mayor: | Sébastien David[1] |
Term: | 2021 - 2026 |
Coordinates: | 43.9592°N 2.8872°W |
Elevation M: | 330 |
Elevation Min M: | 279 |
Elevation Max M: | 720 |
Area Km2: | 110.96 |
Saint-Affrique (in French sɛ̃t‿afʁik/; Languedocien: Sant Africa) is a commune in the Aveyron department in Southern France.
Saint-Affrique grew in the 6th century around the tomb of St. Africain, bishop of Comminges. In the 12th century a fortress was built on the neighboring rock of Caylus. The possession of Saint-Affrique was vigorously contested during the French Wars of Religion. It was eventually occupied by the Huguenots until 1629, when it was seized and dismantled by a royal army.
The Sorgues, a tributary of the Dourdou de Camarès, flows through the commune and crosses the town. The Dourdou de Camarès flows northwestward through the western part of the commune and forms part of its northwestern border.
An old bridge over the Sorgue and some megaliths in the neighborhood, especially, the dolmen of Tiergues, are of antiquarian interest.
Saint-Affrique was the birthplace of:
The Grand Prix of Saint-Affrique has been awarded to noted Parisian painters since the second part of the 20th century. It consists of a month-long stay of at the hotel of famous chef François Decucq during which the painters could visit and paint one of the most beautiful counties in France.Some prize winners: Daniel du Janerand, Maurice Boitel.