Monpazier

Monpazier
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Coat of arms of Monpazier Coat of arms
Monpazier
Location within Aquitaine region Monpazier
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes
Department	Dordogne
Arrondissement	Bergerac
Canton	Monpazier
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Fabrice Duppi
Area1	0.5 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
Population (2008)2	527
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	24280 / 24540
Elevation	144–222 m (472–728 ft) (avg. 200 m or 660 ft)
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.

Monpazier is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwest France. The village is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The most beautiful villages of France") association.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1962	664	—
1968	656	−1.2%
1975	558	−14.9%
1982	533	−4.5%
1990	531	−0.4%
1999	516	−2.8%
2008	527	+2.1%

Its inhabitants are called Monpaziérois.

Sights

Monpazier is a 13th-century bastide town begun in 1285, founded and built by King Edward I of England, who was also Duke of Gascony. It was home to Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard II of England for a time. Nearby is the Château du Biron and the Dordogne River.

The parish church of Monpazier is St. Dominique, built from the 13th through the 16th centuries. The church was built in a rectangular parcel and adjoins with a corner of the marketplace. The apse was added in the fifteenth century and the choir was believed to have been completed in 1506.

Events

During the summer months, Monpazier hosts a number of events of interest to tourists, including a cycle race around the bastide (usually at the start of August), a Medieval day ('fete medieval'), a Kermesse and several specialist markets.

File:Monpazier - Eglise Saint-Dominique - Façade occidentale vue d'une cornière de la place.JPG

Church of St Dominique - The west façade seen through one of the cornières (angle openings) of the main square of Monpazier

See also

• Communes of the Dordogne department

External links

• Official site
• Monpazier seen from the sky by Philippe Dufour
• Bastideum - Museum in Monpazier