Sarlat-la-Canéda

Sarlat-la-Canéda
Coat of arms
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Location within Aquitaine region  Sarlat-la-Canéda
Coordinates: 44°53′34″N 1°12′55″E / 44.8928°N 01.2153°ECoordinates: 44°53′34″N 1°12′55″E / 44.8928°N 01.2153°E
Country	France
Region	Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes
Department	Dordogne
Arrondissement	Sarlat-la-Canéda
Canton	Sarlat-la-Canéda
Intercommunality	Sarladais
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Jean-Jacques de Peretti
Area^1	47.13 km^2 (18.20 sq mi)
Population (2008)^2	9,331
• Density	200/km^2 (510/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	24520 / 24200
Elevation	102–319 m (335–1,047 ft) (avg. 189 m or 620 ft)
Website	www.sarlat.fr
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. ^2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Sarlat-la-Canéda (French: [saʁ.la.la.ka.ne.da] ; Occitan: Sarlat e La Canedat), or simply Sarlat, is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.

Geography

The town of Sarlat is in a region known in France as the Périgord Noir (the Black Périgord, as opposed to the Green Périgord, the White Périgord, and the Purple Périgord).

History

Sarlat is a medieval town that developed around a large Benedictine abbey of Carolingian origin. The medieval Sarlat Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Sacerdos.

Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and one of the towns most representative of 14th century France. It owes its current status on France's Tentative List for future nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage site to the enthusiasm of writer, resistance fighter and politician André Malraux, who, as Minister of Culture (1960–1969), restored the town and many other sites of historic significance throughout France. The centre of the old town consists of impeccably restored stone buildings and is largely car-free.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1968	8,801	—
1975	9,765	+11.0%
1982	9,670	−1.0%
1990	9,909	+2.5%
1999	9,751	−1.6%
2008	9,331	−4.3%

• 

  Portable still at Sarlat

• 

  House of La Boétie, the immortal friend of Montaigne

• 

  Centre of Sarlat on a summer's day

Economy

• Agriculture: Agriculture has long been of importance in the Dordogne area around Sarlat. Tobacco has been grown around Sarlat since 1857 and has historically been a major commodity for the area, although it is on the wane. Other agricultural commodities include corn, hay, walnuts, walnut oil, cheeses, wine, cèpes (a species of wild mushroom) and truffles.
• Tourism: Numerous visitors—especially from northern Europe (the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, etc.) -- come on holiday to Sarlat and the region surrounding it and some have settled there permanently. The months of July and August are traditionally the haute saison (high season) for visitors, as is true in much of France outside Paris.
• Foie gras: There are several large foie gras factories as well as a number of small producers of geese and ducks in the region that make foie gras and other products (confits, pâté, etc.) from these birds.

Transport

• Sarlat railway station offers train services to Bergerac and Bordeaux.

Personalities

Sarlat was the birthplace of:

• Étienne de La Boétie (1530–1563), judge, writer, and philosopher, friend of Montaigne
• François Fournier-Sarlovèze (1773-1827), French general of the Napoleonic Wars
• Gauthier de Costes, seigneur de la Calprenède (c.1610-1663), novelist and dramatist
• Gabriel Tarde, judge and sociologist (1843–1904)

Cultural references

The town and region have featured in two major Hollywood films: Ridley Scott's The Duellists (1978) based on Joseph Conrad's Napoleonic tale; and more recently Timeline (2003) adapted from Michael Crichton's time-travel novel, set in 14th century France.

Other movies partly shot in Sarlat include:

• Ever After, a Cinderella Story (1998) by Andy Tennant
• The Musketeer (2001) by Peter Hyams
• Jacquou le Croquant (2007) by Laurent Boutonnat.

See also

• Wolf of Sarlat
• Communes of the Dordogne département

References

• INSEE

External links

• Sarlat.info
• Official site
• Tourist office website
• jedecouvrelafrance.com
• Air Photography of Sarlat La Canéda
• Bed and Breakfast Sarlat