# Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades

> commune in Ardèche, France

**Wikidata**: [Q246056](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q246056)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-cirgues-de-prades

## Summary

Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades is a commune located in the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southern France. It is a small rural municipality situated within the arrondissement of Largentière, characterized by its mountainous terrain typical of the Ardèche region. The commune serves as a local administrative unit within the French territorial system and maintains a modest population.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades
- **Alias**: Sent Cirgue
- **Type**: Commune in France (municipal territorial subdivision)
- **Country**: France
- **Administrative Region**: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- **Department**: Ardèche (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Largentière
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 44.623611111111°, Longitude 4.2716666666667°
- **Website**: http://www.saint-cirgues-de-prades.fr
- **Wikipedia Title**: Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Ardèche, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 41
- **Population History**: 132, 138, 146, 140, 139, 83, 69, 62, 85, 98, 131, 129, 139, 139, 138, 140, 142 (recorded figures)
- **Commune of France Inception**: 1789 (established as territorial subdivision for municipalities)

## FAQs

**What region and department is Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades located in?**

Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades is located in the Ardèche department, which is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southern France. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Largentière.

**What type of administrative area is Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades?**

Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision in France for municipalities. The commune system was established in 1789 and serves as the fundamental unit of local government in France.

**What is the geographical location of Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades?**

The commune is situated at coordinates 44.623611111111° latitude and 4.2716666666667° longitude, placing it in the southern part of the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

**What is known about the population of Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades?**

Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades is a small commune with population figures recorded as 132, 138, 146, 140, 139, 83, 69, 62, 85, 98, 131, 129, 139, 139, 138, 140, and 142 across various recorded periods, indicating fluctuations in its resident population over time.

**Does Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades have a website?**

Yes, the commune maintains an official website at http://www.saint-cirgues-de-prades.fr.

## Why It Matters

Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades represents the fundamental unit of local governance in the French administrative system. As a commune, it serves as the primary interface between citizens and local government, providing essential services and representing local interests within the broader departmental and regional structures. The commune system, established in 1789 during the French Revolution, democratized local administration and remains a cornerstone of France's territorial organization.

The commune's location within Ardèche places it in one of France's most geographically diverse departments, known for its mountainous terrain, gorges, and rural character. Ardèche became an official department on March 4, 1790, during the early Revolutionary period, and Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades has been an integral part of this administrative division since its creation.

For researchers and those studying French territorial organization, Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades exemplifies the commune structure that forms the backbone of French local government, with its own mayor, municipal council, and local administrative functions, all operating within the framework of the larger departmental and regional hierarchies.

## Notable For

- **Administrative Structure**: Represents the smallest unit of territorial administration in France, a system that has been in place since 1789
- **Regional Identity**: Located in Ardèche, a department known for its natural beauty, including the Ardèche Gorges and volcanic landscapes
- **Historical Departmental Connection**: Part of Ardèche, established as a French department in 1790 during the Revolutionary period
- **Local Governance**: Serves as an active commune with its own municipal administration and website
- **Arrondissement Membership**: Part of the arrondissement of Largentière, one of the administrative divisions serving the Ardèche department

## Body

### Geography and Location

Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades is situated in the Ardèche department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southern France. The commune's precise geographic coordinates are 44.623611111111° latitude and 4.2716666666667° longitude. This location places it in the southeastern portion of France, within the mountainous and rural terrain that characterizes much of the Ardèche department. The commune lies within the arrondissement of Largentière, which serves as an administrative subdivision serving the department's southern territories.

### Administrative Structure

As a commune of France, Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades represents the lowest level of territorial administration in the French system. The commune system was officially established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous parochial and seigniorial divisions. Each commune operates as a municipality with its own mayor and municipal council, responsible for local services, urban planning, civil registration, and local taxation.

Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades falls under multiple layers of administrative hierarchy: it is part of the Ardèche department (inception: March 4, 1790), which itself is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. At the intermediate level, the commune is contained within the arrondissement of Largentière, an administrative division that coordinates certain governmental functions at the sub-departmental level.

### Historical Context

The commune of Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades exists within a historical framework that dates back to the French Revolution. The department of Ardèche was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the Revolutionary government's effort to replace the old provinces with rational, uniform administrative divisions. Similarly, the commune system was established in 1789 to replace the ancient parishes and feudal divisions with a secular, uniform system of local government.

### Population and Demographics

The commune has experienced population fluctuations over time, with recorded figures of 132, 138, 146, 140, 139, 83, 69, 62, 85, 98, 131, 129, 139, 139, 138, 140, and 142. These figures reflect the demographic trends common in rural French communes, where population can vary significantly due to factors including rural flight, economic opportunities, and lifestyle changes. The relatively modest population figures place Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades among the smaller communes in France, typical of rural mountainous areas.

### Local Infrastructure and Services

As an active French commune, Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades maintains local governance infrastructure. The commune operates its own official website at http://www.saint-cirgues-de-prades.fr, providing information to residents and the public about local services, municipal decisions, and community matters. This digital presence reflects the modern administrative capabilities of even small French communes.

### Relationship to Higher Administrative Units

Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades is connected to several higher-level administrative entities. At the national level, it is part of France, a country with a population of approximately 68,605,616 as of 2025. At the regional level, it belongs to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, one of France's 18 administrative regions. At the departmental level, it is part of Ardèche, a department that encompasses diverse terrain from the Rhône Valley to the mountainous interior. The arrondissement of Largentière serves as an intermediate administrative division coordinating state services at the sub-departmental level.

### Cultural and Regional Identity

The commune's name, Saint-Cirgues-de-Prades, reflects the French naming convention for communes, often combining the name of a saint or religious figure (Saint-Cirgues, referring to Saint Cyricus or Quiricus) with a geographical descriptor (de Prades, indicating connection to the Prades area). The alternative name "Sent Cirgue" represents the Occitan language version, reflecting the historical linguistic diversity of the Ardèche region, where Occitan languages were traditionally spoken.

## References

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