# Chalon-sur-Saône

> commune in Saône-et-Loire, France

**Wikidata**: [Q203645](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q203645)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalon-sur-Saône)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chalon-sur-sa-ne

## Summary
Chalon-sur-Saône is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department of France, located along the Saône River. It is known for its historical significance, cultural institutions, and sports clubs. The city has a population of approximately 45,000 and serves as an important regional center in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Commune in Saône-et-Loire, France.
- **Population**: Ranges from 44,592 to 47,085 across recent estimates.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 46.781111, Longitude 4.853889.
- **Official Website**: [http://www.chalon.fr](http://www.chalon.fr)
- **Aliases**: Chalon-sur-Saone, Saint-Cosme, Côme-la-Montagne, Saint-Jean-des-Vignes, Port-la-Montagne, Saint-Martin-des-Champs, Montagne-lès-Chalon, Rochefort-la-Vigne, Champfleury, La Montagne.
- **Notable Institutions**:
  - Musée Nicéphore-Niépce (founded 1972)
  - Chalon Cathedral
  - Gare de Chalon-sur-Saône (railway station)
- **Sports Clubs**:
  - Élan Chalon (basketball club, founded 1955)
  - FC Chalon (football club, founded 1926)
- **Administrative Divisions**:
  - Part of arrondissement of Chalon-sur-Saône
  - Formerly divided into cantons: Chalon-sur-Saône-Sud, -Ouest, -Centre, -Nord; reorganized into Chalon-sur-Saône-1 and -2 in 2015
- **Related Communes**: Charnay-lès-Chalon, Farges-lès-Chalon
- **River Proximity**: Saône River

## FAQs

**What is Chalon-sur-Saône known for?**  
Chalon-sur-Saône is known for its rich cultural heritage, including the Musée Nicéphore-Niépce, which honors the inventor of photography, and its historic Chalon Cathedral. The city also plays a central role in regional sports, hosting clubs like Élan Chalon and FC Chalon.

**What administrative divisions is Chalon-sur-Saône part of?**  
It is located in the Saône-et-Loire department and serves as the seat of the arrondissement of Chalon-sur-Saône. It was formerly divided into five cantons, which were reorganized into two new cantons in 2015.

**What sports teams are based in Chalon-sur-Saône?**  
The city is home to Élan Chalon, a professional basketball club founded in 1955, and FC Chalon, a football club established in 1926.

**What cultural institutions are located in Chalon-sur-Saône?**  
The Musée Nicéphore-Niépce, founded in 1972, celebrates the legacy of photography pioneer Nicéphore Niépce. The Chalon Cathedral is another significant landmark.

**How is Chalon-sur-Saône connected to transportation infrastructure?**  
The city is served by Gare de Chalon-sur-Saône, a railway station that connects it to broader regional and national networks.

## Why It Matters
Chalon-sur-Saône holds historical and cultural importance as a center of innovation and tradition in France. It is the birthplace of Nicéphore Niépce, whose pioneering work in photography laid the foundation for modern visual media. The city also contributes to France’s sporting and cultural identity through its active basketball and football clubs, as well as its architectural and religious landmarks like Chalon Cathedral. Its role as an administrative and geographic hub in the Saône-et-Loire region underscores its relevance in regional governance and community life.

## Notable For
- **Birthplace of Photography**: Home to Musée Nicéphore-Niépce, dedicated to the inventor of photography.
- **Historic Cathedral**: Chalon Cathedral is a significant religious and architectural landmark.
- **Sports Legacy**: Hosts Élan Chalon (basketball) and FC Chalon (football), both with decades-long histories.
- **Administrative Center**: Seat of the arrondissement of Chalon-sur-Saône and historically significant cantonal divisions.
- **River Location**: Situated along the Saône River, contributing to its historical and economic development.
- **Population Stability**: Maintains a population near 45,000, reflecting steady urban demographics.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Chalon-sur-Saône is a commune located in the Saône-et-Loire department in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region of eastern France. It lies along the banks of the Saône River, which has historically influenced its development as a transportation and trade hub. The city's geographic coordinates are approximately latitude 46.781111 and longitude 4.853889.

### History and Administrative Context
Chalon-sur-Saône has been an administrative center since at least the French Revolution. It is the seat of the arrondissement of Chalon-sur-Saône, which was established as part of the post-revolutionary reorganization of French territories. Prior to 2015, the arrondissement was divided into five cantons: Chalon-sur-Saône-Sud, -Ouest, -Centre, -Nord, and a central division. In 2015, these were reorganized into two new cantons: Chalon-sur-Saône-1 and Chalon-sur-Saône-2.

### Demographics
The population of Chalon-sur-Saône has remained relatively stable, ranging from 44,592 to 47,085 in recent years. This demographic consistency reflects its role as a mid-sized but significant urban center in the region.

### Cultural Institutions
#### Musée Nicéphore-Niépce
Founded in 1972, this museum is dedicated to Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, widely recognized as one of the inventors of photography. Located in Chalon-sur-Saône, it houses exhibits on early photographic techniques and Niépce’s contributions to visual culture.

#### Chalon Cathedral
A historic religious site, Chalon Cathedral is an architectural and spiritual landmark in the city. It reflects centuries of ecclesiastical history and remains a key point of interest for both locals and tourists.

### Sports
#### Élan Chalon
Established in 1955, Élan Chalon is a professional basketball club based in the city. It competes in top-tier French leagues and has contributed significantly to the local sports culture.

#### FC Chalon
Founded on June 30, 1926, FC Chalon is a local football (soccer) club. It plays a role in community engagement and regional sports development.

### Transportation
#### Gare de Chalon-sur-Saône
The city’s railway station connects it to broader regional and national rail networks, facilitating economic and social mobility.

### Related Communes
Chalon-sur-Saône is surrounded by several smaller communes, including Charnay-lès-Chalon and Farges-lès-Chalon, which share historical and administrative ties.

### River Proximity
The Saône River, which flows through the city, has historically been a key factor in Chalon-sur-Saône’s development, supporting trade, transport, and industry.

### Official Presence
The city maintains an official website at [http://www.chalon.fr](http://www.chalon.fr), providing civic information and promoting local initiatives.

## References

1. [Source](https://comitejumelagechalonsursaone.org/les-villes-partenaires/)
2. [Sandre](https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau/U---0000)
3. Virtual International Authority File
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6. INSEE code
7. répertoire géographique des communes
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. Czech National Authority Database
10. Annuaire de service-public.fr
11. MusicBrainz
12. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
13. Populations légales 2016
14. Populations légales 2017
15. Populations légales 2018
16. Populations légales 2019
17. Populations légales 2020
18. Populations légales 2021
19. Populations de référence 2022
20. Populations de référence 2023
21. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
22. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
23. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
24. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
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26. Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
27. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
28. [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)
29. Quora
30. YouTube API
31. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
32. museum-digital