Lot (département)
Encyclopedia
Lot is a department in the southwest of France
named after the Lot River
.
on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the province of Languedoc
. In 1808, some of the original southeastern cantons were separated from it to form the department of Tarn-et-Garonne
. It originally extended much farther to the south and included the city of Montauban
.
and is surrounded by the departments of Corrèze
, Cantal
, Aveyron
, Tarn-et-Garonne
, Lot-et-Garonne
, and Dordogne
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
named after the Lot River
Lot River
The Lot, , originally the Olt , is a river in France, right tributary of the Garonne. It rises in the Cévennes, flowing west through Quercy, where it flows into the Garonne near Aiguillon, a total distance of...
.
History
Lot is one of the original 83 departments created during the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the province of Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
. In 1808, some of the original southeastern cantons were separated from it to form the department of Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne is a French department in the southwest of France. It is traversed by the Rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name.-History:...
. It originally extended much farther to the south and included the city of Montauban
Montauban
Montauban is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is the capital of the department and lies north of Toulouse....
.
Geography
Lot is part of the region of Midi-PyrénéesMidi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées is the largest region of metropolitan France by area, larger than the Netherlands or Denmark.Midi-Pyrénées has no historical or geographical unity...
and is surrounded by the departments of Corrèze
Corrèze
Corrèze is a department in south central France, named after the Corrèze River.The inhabitants of the department are called Corréziens or Corréziennes according to gender.-History:...
, Cantal
Cantal
Cantal is a department in south-central France. It is named after the Cantal mountain range, a group of extinct, eroded volcanic peaks, which covers much of the department. Residents are known as Cantaliens or Cantalous....
, Aveyron
Aveyron
Aveyron is a département in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790....
, Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne is a French department in the southwest of France. It is traversed by the Rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name.-History:...
, Lot-et-Garonne
Lot-et-Garonne
Lot-et-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France named after the Lot and Garonne rivers.-History:Lot-et-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, and Dordogne
Dordogne
Dordogne is a départment in south-west France. The départment is located in the region of Aquitaine, between the Loire valley and the High Pyrénées named after the great river Dordogne that runs through it...
.
Communes in Lot
For a full list, see Communes of the Lot department. Settlements in the Lot include:- CahorsCahorsCahors is the capital of the Lot department in south-western France.Its site is dramatic being contained on three sides within an udder shaped twist in the river Lot known as a 'presqu'île' or peninsula...
- a large town known internationally for its production of Cahors wine - FigeacFigeacFigeac is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.Figeac is a sub-prefecture of the department.-History:Figeac is on the via Podiensis, a major hiking medieval pilgrimage trail which is part of the Way of St. James...
- a medieval town where Champollion, the first translator of Egyptian hieroglyphics, is born - Frayssinet-le-GélatFrayssinet-le-GélatFrayssinet-le-Gélat is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.-History:In Frayssinet-le-Gélat, members of the French underground shot and killed a German officer. For this crime, fifteen hostages were taken and assassinated. Most of the hostages were young males from one-child...
- a small village close to Prayssac - PrayssacPrayssacPrayssac is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France....
- a town of approximately 3,000 residents
See also
- Cantons of the Lot department
- Communes of the Lot department
- Arrondissements of the Lot department