Saint-Lizier

Saint-Lizier
Commune
Saint-Lizier cloister
Coat of arms
Location of Saint-Lizier
Saint-Lizier Saint-Lizier
Coordinates: 43°00′10″N 1°08′15″E
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Ariège
Arrondissement	Saint-Girons
Canton	Portes du Couserans
Intercommunality	Saint-Girons
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Étienne Dedieu
Area 1	9.01 km2 (3.48 sq mi)
Population  (2008)	1,466
• Density	160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	09268 /09190
Elevation	368–578 m (1,207–1,896 ft) (avg. 484 m or 1,588 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Lizier is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France, situated on the river Salat.

History

Saint-Lizier has a rich history stretching back to pre Gallo-Roman times. In 72 BC, Pompey, returning from his triumphs in Spain against Sertorius, stopped here. He gathered together the ancient tribes of the area under the name Consorani. The ramparts seen today date from 3rd century AD and enclose the oppidum.

During the fifth century the citadel became an episcopal see, the oldest in the Ariège area. Its first bishop is thought to have been Saint Valier. The town is named in honor of its 6th Century bishop Lycerius, canonized as Saint Lizier, a bishop who participated in the Council of Agde in 506. The town has two former cathedrals: Saint-Lizier Cathedral (now the parish church) and Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède Cathedral.

Population

Inhabitants of Saint-Lizier are called Licérois.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1962	1,635	—
1968	1,695	+3.7%
1975	1,719	+1.4%
1982	1,855	+7.9%
1990	1,646	−11.3%
1999	1,592	−3.3%
2008	1,466	−7.9%

See also

• Communes of the Ariège department

References

• INSEE