# Paray-le-Frésil

> commune in Allier, France

**Wikidata**: [Q264211](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q264211)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paray-le-Frésil)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/paray-le-fr-sil

## Summary
Paray-le-Frésil is a commune in the Allier department of France, located in the central region of the country. It is part of the canton of Chevagnes and falls within the arrondissement of Moulins. The municipality is one of many small administrative subdivisions that make up the French territorial structure.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Commune in France (commune de France)  
- **Department**: Allier (inception: March 4, 1790)  
- **Region**: Auvergne (now part of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)  
- **Canton**: Chevagnes  
- **Arrondissement**: Moulins  
- **Country**: France  
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 46.6558° N, Longitude 3.6111° E  
- **Aliases**: Paray  
- **Population Estimates**: 376 to 573 (fluctuating over time)  
- **Wikipedia Title**: Paray-le-Frésil  
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Allier, France  
- **Sitelink Count**: 42  
- **Historical Context**: Part of the French communal system established in 1789  

## FAQs

**What is Paray-le-Frésil?**  
Paray-le-Frésil is a small French commune located in the Allier department. It is administratively grouped within the canton of Chevagnes and the arrondissement of Moulins.

**Where is Paray-le-Frésil located?**  
It is situated in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 46.6558° N and 3.6111° E.

**What is the administrative structure of Paray-le-Frésil?**  
It is a commune, the smallest administrative division in France. It belongs to the canton of Chevagnes, the arrondissement of Moulins, and the Allier department.

**What is the population of Paray-le-Frésil?**  
The population has varied over time, with recorded figures including 376, 382, 385, 387, 389, 405, 417, 428, 469, 522, and 573.

**When was the Allier department created?**  
The Allier department was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

**What is the significance of the canton of Chevagnes?**  
The canton of Chevagnes is a local electoral and administrative subdivision in the Allier department, grouping several communes for governance purposes.

**What is the role of the arrondissement of Moulins?**  
The arrondissement of Moulins is an administrative district within the Allier department, overseeing local governance and judicial matters for its constituent communes.

## Why It Matters
Paray-le-Frésil represents the decentralized structure of French local governance, embodying the historical and administrative evolution of France’s territorial organization. As part of the communal system established during the French Revolution in 1789, it reflects the country’s commitment to local democracy and regional identity. Though small, it contributes to the national fabric by participating in France’s intricate administrative network, ensuring representation and services at the grassroots level.

## Notable For
- **Historical Continuity**: Part of the original French communal system since 1789  
- **Administrative Precision**: Nested within multiple layers of French governance (commune → canton → arrondissement → department → state)  
- **Demographic Fluctuation**: Population has ranged from 376 to 573, reflecting rural demographic trends  
- **Geographic Positioning**: Located in the heart of France, in a historically significant region  
- **Cultural Preservation**: Maintains local identity within a national framework  

## Body

### Geography and Territory
Paray-le-Frésil is a commune located in the Allier department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. Its geographic coordinates are 46.6558° N and 3.6111° E. The commune is part of the canton of Chevagnes and the arrondissement of Moulins. The Allier department, established on March 4, 1790, is one of the original departments created during the French Revolution.

### Government and Politics
As a commune, Paray-le-Frésil is part of the smallest administrative unit in France, governed by a mayor and a municipal council. It falls under the jurisdiction of:
- **Canton of Chevagnes**, which groups several communes for electoral purposes
- **Arrondissement of Moulins**, responsible for local governance and judicial matters
- **Allier Department**, which oversees regional administration
- **France**, a unitary semi-presidential republic with a decentralized structure

This multi-tiered governance ensures representation at the local, regional, and national levels.

### Demographics and Society
The population of Paray-le-Frésil has fluctuated over time, with recorded figures including:
- 376, 379, 382, 385, 387, 389, 405, 417, 428, 469, 522, and 573

These variations reflect broader demographic trends in rural France, including migration and aging populations. The commune is part of a national system that includes over 35,000 communes, each contributing to France’s decentralized democracy.

### Infrastructure and Standards
Paray-le-Frésil operates under French national standards:
- **Time Zone**: Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00)
- **Driving Side**: Right
- **Electricity**: 230 volts, 50 Hz; plugs: Europlug, Type E
- **Calling Code**: +33
- **Internet TLD**: .fr
- **ISO Codes**: FR (Alpha-2), FRA (Alpha-3), 250 (Numeric)

### Symbols and Culture
While Paray-le-Frésil does not have unique national symbols, it participates in the broader French cultural identity:
- **National Flag**: Tricolore (blue, white, red)
- **Motto**: "Liberté, égalité, fraternité"
- **National Anthem**: "La Marseillaise"
- **Public Holidays**: Observed nationally, including Bastille Day (July 14) and Christmas (December 25)

### International Relations and History
Paray-le-Frésil, like all French communes, is part of the French Republic, which:
- Is a founding member of the European Union (since 1957)
- A permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (since 1945)
- Member of NATO (since 1949)
- Possesses nuclear weapons (since 1960)

The commune is part of a system that traces its origins to the Treaty of Verdun (843 AD) and the French Revolution (1789), which established the modern administrative structure of France.

## 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)