Libourne

Libourne (French pronunciation: [libuʁn] (listen); Gascon: Liborna [liˈbuɾnɔ]) is a commune in the Gironde department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.

Libourne
Subprefecture and commune
View of Libourne and the Dordogne river
Coat of arms
Location of Libourne
Libourne Show map of France Libourne Show map of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Coordinates: 44°55′N 0°14′W
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Gironde
Arrondissement	Libourne
Canton	Le Libournais-Fronsadais
Intercommunality	Communauté d'agglomération du Libournais
Government
• Mayor (2014–2020)	Philippe Buisson[1]
Area 1	20.63 km2 (7.97 sq mi)
Population  (2014)	24,595
• Density	1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Demonym	Libournais
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	33243 /33500
Elevation	2–28 m (6.6–91.9 ft) (avg. 15 m or 49 ft)
Website	www.ville-libourne.fr
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

It is the wine-making capital of northern Gironde and lies near Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, both known for their wines.

History

Libourne was created as a bastide by Roger de Leybourne in 1270. The original name of Leybourne changed to the present Libourne. Its original aim was to be a port to ship wine of the Dordogne valley to England.

Geography

Libourne is at the confluence of the Isle and Dordogne rivers. The city is at about 31 km (19 mi) from Bordeaux and 98 km (61 mi) from Arcachon.

It has an area of 20.6 km² (8.0 sq mi),^[2] and its average altitude is 15 m (49 ft); at the city hall, the altitude is 10 m (33 ft).^[3]

Libourne and its neighboring communes

Libourne is surrounded by the communes Les Billaux, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Pomerol, Saint-Émilion, Moulon, Génissac, Arveyres, Fronsac and Saillans.

Climate

The climate of Libourne is Marine West Coast Climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb), with mild winters and warm summers.

Population

The inhabitants of Libourne are known, in French, as Libournais (women: Libournaises).^[4]

With a population of 24,595,^[5] Libourne has a population density of 1,192 inhabitants/km².

Evolution of the population in Libourne

Administration

Libourne is a sub-prefecture of the Gironde department since 1790. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Libourne and the administrative centre (French: chef-lieu) of the canton of Le Libournais-Fronsadais with 53,307 inhabitants (2014).:^[6]

It is part of the intercommunality Le Libournais (French: Communauté d'agglomération du Libournais).

Twin towns

Libourne is twinned with:^[7]

• Morocco
• Berne, Switzerland
• Morocco Casablanca, Morocco

Gallery

• 
  Vineyards in St Emilion
• 
  Porte du Port
• 
  Bridge over the Dordogne river
• 
  Libourne town hall
• 
  Saint Jean church

Related pages

• Arrondissement of Libourne
• Communes of the Gironde department