Arpajon-sur-Cère (, literally Arpajon on Cère; or just ) is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region of south-central France.
Geography Arpajon-sur-Cère is located immediately to the south of Aurillac some 70 km south-east of Brive-la-Gaillarde. The town is an extension of the urban area of Aurillac. Access to the commune is by the D920 from Aurillac which continues south to Lafeuillade-en-Vézie. The D990 also goes from south of the town to Vézac in the east. The D58 comes from Giou-de-Mamou in the north-east then goes south-west from the town to the Château de Conros and joins the D617 at the south-western border of the commune. Much of the runway of Aurillac – Tronquières Airport is in the commune. A railway passes through the north of the commune but the nearest station is in Aurillac. Apart from the town there are the villages and hamlets of:
Carbonnat Esmoles Le Pont Roquetorte Douarat Le Bousquet Crespiat Le Cambon Le Sal Les Granges Lapeyrusse Carsac Combelles Senilhes Les Quatre Routes Toules
Outside the residential areas there are extensive forests in the south and south-west with the rest of the commune farmland.Google Maps
The Jordanne river flows from Aurillac to join the Cère just south-west of the town with the Cère continuing west to eventually join the Dordogne at Girac.
Neighbouring communes and villages
Toponymy The name Arpjon originates from the Gallic word Arpaionem which is composed of the word arepo meaning "plough". It was attested in 923 in the form: vicaria arpajonensis.Albert Dauzat In Carladézien dialect, Arpajon is pronounced Olpotsou, according to a recording there in 2007.
History
The Dejou Féniès & son and Lartigue companies were established in the commune in the 20th century manufacturing wood especially Jouets Dejou (Dejou Toys) which are highly sought after by Doll collectors.
Heraldry
Administration
List of Successive MayorsList of Mayors of France From To Name Party 1977 2014 Roger Destannes PS 2014 2020 Michel Roussy 2020 2026 Isabelle Lantuejoul
Twinning Arpajon-sur-Cère has twinning associations with:National Commission for Decentralised cooperation Blyth (United Kingdom) since 1990. Bougouni (Mali).
Demography The inhabitants of the commune are known as Arpajonnais or Arpajonnaises in French.Le nom des habitants du 15 - Cantal, habitants.fr
Sites and Monuments
The commune has several sites and buildings that are registered as historical monuments: The Birthplace of Général Milhaud at 1 Avenue du Général-Milhaud (1753)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The old Pont-de-Mamou Mill on Rue Jean-Jaurès (1772)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Château de Conros (15th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée The Château de Conros ParkMinistry of Culture, Mérimée The Château de Carbonat ParkMinistry of Culture, Mérimée The Château de Limagne GardenMinistry of Culture, Mérimée
Other sites of interest Barrière hamlet where Louis Laparra de Fieux was born. The Cabrières bridge, a hamlet and a bridge which once had a toll. The Chateau de Ganhac currently a mansion house, a former fief awarded in 1676 to Charles de Broquin who was married to Jeanne de Cambefort. The Château de Montal, a former fief whose family was originally the Lords of Laroquebrou and Conros, with a castrale chapel under the invocation of Saint Michael. It then became the property of the La Roque-Montal family. The Chateau de La Prade, purchased in 1756 by Marie-Françoise de Broglie, the widow of Charles Robert de Lignerac who did considerable work on the building. Ruined in the French Revolution. The Arboretum d'Arpajon-sur-Cère The Parish Church contains several items that are registered as historical objects: 2 Bronze Bells (1781)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Painting: The Placing in the Tomb (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A framed Painting: The Baptism of Christ (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Sarcophagus (Middle Ages)Ministry of Culture, Palissy
The Chateau de Carbonat Picture Gallery
Notable people linked to the commune Jacques de Milly, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller Louis Laparra de Fieux (Arpajon 1651-1706), engineer of fortifications and strategist. Édouard Jean Baptiste Milhaud (Arpajon 1766 - Aurillac 1833), member of the National Convention, General, Count of the Empire. Eugene d'Humières, man of letters, translator of Kipling. Louis Dauzier, politician and mayor of Aurillac under the French Third Republic. Antoine Dusserre (Carbonnat 1865-1925), novelist. Léo Pons, filmmaker.
See also Communes of the Cantal department
References
External links
Discovery of an early Christian sarcophagus and medieval sepulchres in sarcophagi at Arpajon-sur-Cère Arpajon-sur-Cère on the National Geographic Institute website Arpajon on the 1750 Cassini Map