# Bègues

> commune in Allier, France

**Wikidata**: [Q849065](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q849065)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bègues)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/b-gues

## Summary

Bègues is a commune located in the Allier department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in central France, situated in the arrondissement of Vichy. The small rural municipality sits at coordinates 46.1275°N latitude and 3.1558333333333°E longitude, representing a traditional French communal territory governed under the commune of France administrative system established in 1789.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name:** Bègues
- **Country:** France
- **Administrative Region:** Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- **Department:** Allier (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement:** Vichy
- **Coordinates:** 46.1275°N, 3.1558333333333°E
- **Administrative Classification:** Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789)
- **Population:** Historical census figures recorded as 231, 227, 229, 227, 226, 150, 152, 196, 193, 202, 225, 231, 224, 222, 226, 229, and 232 residents across multiple census periods
- **Website:** http://www.intramuros.org/begues
- **Wikipedia Title:** Bègues
- **Wikidata Description:** commune in Allier, France
- **Sitelink Count:** 46

## FAQs

**What region and department is Bègues located in?**

Bègues is situated in the Allier department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in central France, specifically within the arrondissement of Vichy. The commune falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Allier department, which was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

**What type of administrative area is Bègues?**

Bègues is classified as a commune of France, which is the lowest-level administrative territorial subdivision in France, corresponding to municipalities. The commune system was institutionalized in 1789 following the French Revolution, organizing France into territorial units governed by municipal councils.

**How can I find more information about Bègues?**

Official information about Bègues can be found on the commune's website at http://www.intramuros.org/begues. Additional information is available through Wikipedia under the title "Bègues" and through Wikidata's structured data entries.

**What is the population of Bègues?**

Bègues is a small rural commune with population figures fluctuating between 150 and 232 residents across various census periods. The historical census data shows population numbers of 231, 227, 229, 227, 226, 150, 152, 196, 193, 202, 225, 231, 224, 222, 226, 229, and 232, indicating a relatively small but stable community typical of rural French municipalities.

## Why It Matters

Bègues represents the fundamental building block of French local governance, embodying the commune system that forms the backbone of France's administrative structure. As one of approximately 34,000 communes in France, Bègues participates in the democratic organization of the French Republic at the most local level, providing essential public services, maintaining local infrastructure, and representing the interests of its residents within the broader departmental and regional governance frameworks.

The commune's location within the Allier department places it in the historic Bourbonnais region of central France, an area known for its thermal springs, volcanic landscapes, and agricultural traditions. The arrondissement of Vichy, to which Bègues belongs, is particularly notable for its spa town heritage and the Vichy brand of mineral water that has achieved international recognition.

Understanding Bègues provides insight into how France maintains its distinctive system of local governance, where even the smallest municipalities retain administrative autonomy while being integrated into departmental and regional structures. This decentralized approach allows for local decision-making while maintaining national coherence in policy implementation.

## Notable For

- **Administrative Heritage:** Part of the historic commune system established during the French Revolution in 1789, representing over two centuries of continuous municipal organization
- **Departmental Significance:** Located in Allier, one of France's original departments created on March 4, 1790, during the foundational reorganization of French territory
- **Thermal Region Connection:** Situated within the Vichy arrondissement, home to the world-renowned Vichy thermal springs and spa tradition
- **Rural Character:** Represents the many small rural communes that form the demographic backbone of rural France, with populations typically under 500 residents

## Body

### Geography and Location

Bègues is positioned at geographic coordinates of 46.1275°N latitude and 3.1558333333333°E longitude, placing it in the central-eastern portion of France within the Allier department. The commune lies in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, a territory characterized by its diverse topography ranging from volcanic plateaus to river valleys. The area falls within the arrondissement of Vichy, an administrative division known for its thermal springs and therapeutic spa traditions that have attracted visitors since Roman times.

### Administrative Structure

As a commune of France, Bègues operates as a territorial collectivity governed by municipal authorities within the framework of the French Republic's decentralized administration. The commune system, with roots dating back to 1789, represents the most local level of French governance, responsible for municipal planning, local taxation, civil registration, and maintenance of public spaces and infrastructure.

Bègues is subordinate to the Allier department, which was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the revolutionary government's rationalization of French administrative divisions. The department is itself part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, one of eighteen administrative regions in metropolitan France. At the intermediate level, Bègues falls within the arrondissement of Vichy, which serves as the administrative center for surrounding municipalities.

### Demographics and Population

The population figures for Bègues demonstrate the characteristics of a small rural French commune. Historical census data records population numbers of 231, 227, 229, 227, 226, 150, 152, 196, 193, 202, 225, 231, 224, 222, 226, 229, and 232 residents across various census periods. These fluctuations reflect broader demographic trends in rural France, where many small communes experienced population decline during the mid-twentieth century before stabilizing or experiencing modest recovery in more recent decades.

The population size places Bègues among the smaller municipalities in France, consistent with the rural character of the Allier department. Such communes typically maintain tight-knit communities where local governance directly engages with residents on municipal matters.

### Historical Context

The commune of Bègues exists within a historical framework established by the French Revolution. The abolition of the ancient regime's administrative divisions and their replacement by departments, districts, and communes in 1789-1790 created the modern system of French territorial organization that persists today. Allier, as one of the original departments, has maintained its territorial integrity since that time, providing Bègues with over two centuries of continuous administrative identity within the same departmental structure.

### Connection to Broader Entities

Bègues relates to several higher-level administrative entities that structure French governance:

- **France:** The sovereign nation-state, a semi-presidential republic and founding member of the European Union
- **Allier Department:** The departmental administrative unit (inception: March 4, 1790) that provides intermediate governance
- **Arrondissement of Vichy:** The sub-departmental administrative division containing Bègues
- **Commune of France:** The category of territorial subdivision to which Bègues belongs (inception: 1789)

### Information Resources

Bègues maintains a digital presence through its official website at http://www.intramuros.org/begues, providing a communication channel between the municipal administration and residents or visitors. The commune is documented in Wikipedia under the title "Bègues" and in Wikidata's structured knowledge base, where it carries the description "commune in Allier, France" and maintains a sitelink count of 46, indicating its presence across multiple Wikimedia projects.

## References

1. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
2. INSEE code
3. répertoire géographique des communes
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Annuaire de service-public.fr
6. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
7. Populations légales 2016
8. Populations légales 2017
9. Populations légales 2018
10. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
11. Populations légales 2019
12. Populations légales 2020
13. Populations légales 2021
14. Populations de référence 2022
15. Populations de référence 2023
16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
18. GeoNames
19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
20. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)