Castres, Tarn Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Castres

Subprefecture and commune

Houses by the Agout River

Coat of arms

Castres

Location in France

Castres

Location in Occitanie

Country

Castres-1, 2 and 3

Castres-Mazamet

Area

98.17 km² (37.90 sq mi)

Population

(2014)

41,382

• Density

421.534/km² (1,091.77/sq mi)

Castrais

• Summer (DST)

INSEE/Postal code

81065 /81100

Elevation

151–367 m (495–1,204 ft)
(avg. 170 m or 560 ft)

Website

www.ville-castres.fr

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Castres (Occitan: Castras) is a town in southwestern France. It is located in the Occitanie region and the Tarn department. Castres is a "subprefecture," which means it's an important administrative center for its area.

It is the fourth largest industrial area in the Midi-Pyrénées region. This region is mostly rural, meaning it has a lot of countryside. Castres is also the biggest town in the part of Languedoc that lies between Toulouse and Montpellier.

The Story of Castres: Its History
Exploring Castres: Geography
- Castres Weather: Climate
People of Castres: Population
- How Castres' Population Has Changed
How Castres is Governed: Administration
Learning in Castres: Education
Friends Around the World: Sister Cities
Pictures of Castres: Gallery
More About Castres: Related Pages
Images for kids
See also

The Story of Castres: Its History

The name "Castres" comes from the Latin word castrum. This word means "fortified place," like a strong fort or castle.

Castres started as a small settlement around a Benedictine abbey called Saint Benoît. An abbey is a place where monks live and work. Castres became a very important stop for people on pilgrimage routes. These routes led to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Why was it so important? Because its abbey-church, built in the 9th century, held the relics of Saint Vincent. He was a famous martyr from Spain. By the 12th century, Castres was already a significant town. It was considered the second most important town in the Albigeois area, after Albi.

Exploring Castres: Geography

Castres is in southern France. It's in the southwestern part of the Tarn department. The town is just north of the Montagne Noire, which is a mountain range.

The Agout river flows through Castres from north to south. The Agout river is a smaller river that eventually joins the larger Tarn river.

The area of Castres is about 98.17 km² (37.90 sq mi). The average height of the land above sea level is 259 m (850 ft). At the city hall, the height is 173 m (568 ft).

Castres is about 42 km (26 mi) southeast of Albi. It is also about 72 km (45 mi) east of Toulouse.

Castres Weather: Climate

The climate in Castres is known as an Oceanic climate with template summers. This means it usually has mild temperatures and rainfall throughout the year, with warm but not extremely hot summers.

People of Castres: Population

The people who live in Castres are called Castrais in French. If you're talking about women from Castres, they are called Castraises.

In 2014, the city of Castres had a population of 41,382 people. This means there were about 422 people living in each square kilometer of the town.

How Castres' Population Has Changed

How Castres is Governed: Administration

Castres is a "subprefecture" of the Tarn department. This means it's the main town for a smaller administrative area called an "arrondissement." Castres is also the main town for three smaller areas called "Cantons":

Castres-1: This canton includes a part of Castres itself. In 2014, about 16,890 people lived here.
Castres-2: This canton includes another part of Castres and six other small towns or villages. In 2014, about 15,422 people lived here.
Castres-3: This canton includes a third part of Castres and the town of Navès. In 2014, about 15,319 people lived here.

Castres is also part of a group of towns that work together, called Castres - Mazamet. This group helps manage services for all the towns involved.

Learning in Castres: Education

Institut national universitaire Jean-François Champollion is a university institute located in Castres.

Friends Around the World: Sister Cities

Castres has "sister city" relationships with other towns around the world. This means they share cultural exchanges and friendly ties. Castres is twinned with: