Najac

Najac

A general view of Najac

Coat of arms
Najac

Coordinates: 44°13′11″N 1°58′43″E / 44.2198°N 1.9787°E / 44.2198; 1.9787Coordinates: 44°13′11″N 1°58′43″E / 44.2198°N 1.9787°E / 44.2198; 1.9787
Country France
Region Occitanie
Department Aveyron
Arrondissement Villefranche-de-Rouergue
Canton Najac
Intercommunality Canton of Najac
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Raymond Rébellac
Area1 53.88 km2 (20.80 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 752
 • Density 14/km2 (36/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 12167 / 12270
Elevation 198–500 m (650–1,640 ft)
(avg. 300 m or 980 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.
Oustal del Barry

Najac is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.

Najac is a picturesque village set along a ridge above a bend in the Aveyron River. In the earlier part of the last century the village had around 2000 people but it suffered marked population decline as workers migrated to towns and cities. Several films concern the village and its surrounds, for example, La Vie Comme Elle Va.

The village economy, once famous for ham, is based largely on tourism and agriculture. Most land in the commune is still used for farming and there are a significant number of long-term inhabitants. During the summer, the population increases significantly due to second home owners and holiday-makers. Most holiday home owners are British, Canadian, Dutch or from the north of France.

The village is known for historic buildings and apparent medieval character. A partly ruined château dominates; it was built by villagers in 1253 on the orders of Alphonse de Poitiers. The 13th century Eglise Saint-Jean, built by villagers as a punishment for Cathar beliefs, overlooks the lower village, while at the other end, the faubourg has the typical architecture of many bastide villages with timber-framed houses and commercial arcades around an open area.

Najac is also one of the 140 or so Plus Beaux Villages de France (most beautiful villages of France), which in addition to ensuring its tourism status, brings money to maintain the village.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
17932,029—    
18002,181+7.5%
18062,157−1.1%
18212,251+4.4%
18312,417+7.4%
18362,201−8.9%
18412,070−6.0%
18462,130+2.9%
18512,189+2.8%
18562,388+9.1%
18612,406+0.8%
18662,415+0.4%
18722,455+1.7%
18762,266−7.7%
18812,040−10.0%
18862,029−0.5%
18911,870−7.8%
18961,771−5.3%
19011,660−6.3%
19061,623−2.2%
19111,515−6.7%
19211,246−17.8%
19261,207−3.1%
19311,138−5.7%
19361,098−3.5%
1946996−9.3%
1954825−17.2%
1962767−7.0%
19681,029+34.2%
1975928−9.8%
1982818−11.9%
1990766−6.4%
1999744−2.9%
2008752+1.1%

See also

References

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