# Saint-Floret > commune in Puy-de-Dôme, France **Wikidata**: [Q473013](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q473013) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Floret) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-floret ## Summary Saint-Floret is a commune located in the Puy-de-Dôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France. Known also by its alias Roche-la-Couze, this small rural municipality sits in the canton of Champeix within the arrondissement of Issoire. The commune is characterized by its traditional French village architecture and agricultural heritage, representing the typical rural commune structure found throughout central France. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Saint-Floret - **Alias**: Roche-la-Couze - **Country**: France - **Department**: Puy-de-Dôme (inception: March 4, 1790) - **Region**: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - **Arrondissement**: Issoire - **Canton**: Champeix - **Commune Type**: Commune of France (established: 1789) - **Coordinates**: Latitude 45.551111111111°, Longitude 3.1069444444444° - **Population**: Approximately 243–270 residents (varying across recent years) - **Website**: http://www.saint-floret.fr - **Wikipedia Title**: Saint-Floret - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Puy-de-Dôme, France - **Sitelink Count**: 40 ## FAQs **What region and department is Saint-Floret located in?** Saint-Floret is situated in the Puy-de-Dôme department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-central France. It falls within the arrondissement of Issoire and the canton of Champeix. **What is the administrative structure of Saint-Floret?** As a French commune, Saint-Floret is the lowest-level administrative division in France. It is part of the canton of Champeix, which is a township within the Puy-de-Dôme department. The commune operates under the broader administrative framework of the arrondissement of Issoire and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. **What is the population of Saint-Floret?** Saint-Floret is a small rural commune with a population ranging between 243 and 270 residents across recent census periods, typical of many villages in the rural heartland of France. **What is Saint-Floret known as locally?** Saint-Floret is also known by its alias name "Roche-la-Couze," which reflects local naming conventions and historical references to the commune's geography. **What is the geographical location of Saint-Floret?** The commune is located at coordinates 45.551111111111° latitude and 3.1069444444444° longitude, placing it in the central-southern part of the Puy-de-Dôme department, an area known for its volcanic landscapes and agricultural valleys. ## Why It Matters Saint-Floret represents the quintessential French rural commune that forms the backbone of France's territorial organization. While small in population, such communes are essential to understanding France's decentralized administrative structure and the country's commitment to maintaining local governance at the municipal level. The commune system, which originated in 1789 during the French Revolution, ensures that even the smallest settlements have a recognized administrative identity and can participate in local governance through elected municipal councils. The commune matters as part of the broader Puy-de-Dôme department, which is itself part of the historic Auvergne region now integrated into Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, one of France's 18 administrative regions. This hierarchical structure reflects France's approach to balancing local autonomy with regional coordination. Saint-Floret's location within the canton of Champeix places it within a network of similar rural communes that share administrative resources and services. From a cultural perspective, Saint-Floret embodies the traditional French village character that defines much of rural France—characterized by agricultural activity, historic architecture, and community-oriented living. These communes preserve France's rural heritage while serving as residential areas for those who work in nearby larger towns and cities. The commune's website (http://www.saint-floret.fr) indicates active local governance and community engagement, demonstrating that even small municipalities maintain a digital presence for their citizens. ## Notable For - **Administrative Identity**: Represents the fundamental unit of local government in France, with its own mayor and municipal council - **Historical Canton**: Part of the canton of Champeix, a traditional township structure within French administrative organization - **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Puy-de-Dôme, a department established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution's administrative reorganization - **Regional Character**: Situated in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France's largest region by area, known for its volcanic landscapes, thermal springs, and medieval villages - **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website, indicating active local governance and citizen services ## Body ### Geography and Location Saint-Floret is positioned at coordinates 45.551111111111° latitude and 3.1069444444444° longitude in the central-southern portion of the Puy-de-Dôme department. The commune sits within the Arrondissement of Issoire, one of the administrative divisions responsible for coordinating state services at the sub-departmental level. The canton of Champeix, of which Saint-Floret is a part, represents a grouping of communes that share certain administrative functions and electoral representation. The geography of the Puy-de-Dôme department is characterized by the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of extinct volcanoes that forms a distinctive landscape in the Auvergne region. The department takes its name from the Puy de Dôme, one of the most prominent volcanic peaks in the area. Saint-Floret, like other communes in this region, benefits from the fertile volcanic soils and the rolling terrain that defines this part of central France. ### Administrative Structure As a commune of France, Saint-Floret operates as a territorial collectivity with its own mayor and municipal council. The French commune system, established in 1789, is the lowest level of administrative division in the country. Each commune has its own budget, local taxes, and responsibility for services such as local roads, birth and death registrations, and municipal planning. Saint-Floret is part of the canton of Champeix, which serves as an electoral district for certain departmental elections and as an administrative framework for coordinating services across multiple smaller communes. The canton system allows for the pooling of resources for functions that would be inefficient for individual small communes to handle independently. At the departmental level, Saint-Floret falls under the jurisdiction of Puy-de-Dôme, a department created on March 4, 1790, as part of the revolutionary reorganization of France into departments based on geography rather than historical provinces. The department is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, which was formed in 2016 through the merger of the former Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes regions, creating France's largest regional unit by area. ### Demographics and Population Saint-Floret maintains a population typically ranging between 243 and 270 residents, consistent with its classification as a small rural commune. This population size is typical of the many villages that dot the rural landscape of central France, where agricultural activity has historically supported small but stable communities. The commune's population figures have remained relatively stable in recent years, reflecting the character of rural French communes that maintain a consistent presence even as some larger urban areas experience population fluctuations. These small communes often serve as residential bases for workers employed in nearby towns and cities while preserving agricultural land and rural生活方式 (lifestyle). ### Historical Context The commune of Saint-Floret exists within a department with deep historical roots. The Puy-de-Dôme department was created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790, as part of the new administrative framework that replaced the old provinces of the Ancien Régime. The department was named after the prominent volcanic peak that serves as a natural landmark for the region. The commune system itself dates to December 14, 1789, when the National Constituent Assembly created the municipality (commune) as the basic unit of French administrative organization. This revolutionary creation established the principle that all French citizens, regardless of the size of their settlement, would have access to local democratic governance through their municipal councils. Saint-Floret's alias, Roche-la-Couze, likely reflects historical naming conventions tied to local geography or landmarks. Many French communes have historical names or aliases that predate the revolutionary administrative system and reflect the local dialect,地形 (terrain), or notable features of the area. ### Local Governance and Services As a functioning French commune, Saint-Floret maintains local governance through a mayor and municipal council elected by residents. The commune is responsible for various local services including municipal roads, local planning and zoning, civil registration (births, deaths, marriages), and maintenance of public spaces. The commune maintains an official website at http://www.saint-floret.fr, demonstrating active engagement with modern digital governance and citizen communication. This digital presence allows residents to access municipal information, services, and news about local events and decisions. ### Cultural and Regional Identity Saint-Floret is representative of the rural commune culture that defines much of France's territorial identity. The commune contributes to the broader cultural landscape of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, which is known for its distinctive cuisine (including cheeses like Cantal and Saint-Nectaire), thermal spas, volcanic landscapes, and medieval architecture. The region's identity is closely tied to its volcanic geography, which has created unique terrain, mineral springs, and agricultural conditions. The Chaîne des Puys, a UNESCO World Heritage site, represents the area's volcanic heritage and attracts both scientific interest and tourism. Communes like Saint-Floret exist within this landscape, preserving traditional rural French life while benefiting from the region's natural and cultural resources. ### Related Administrative Entities Saint-Floret's administrative position reflects the hierarchical structure of French territorial organization: - **Country**: France — the sovereign nation - **Region**: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes — one of France's 18 administrative regions - **Department**: Puy-de-Dôme — created March 4, 1790 - **Arrondissement**: Issoire — sub-departmental administrative division - **Canton**: Champeix — electoral and administrative district - **Commune**: Saint-Floret — lowest level of administrative division This structure demonstrates France's system of multi-level governance, where local communes are integrated into progressively larger administrative units that coordinate services, representation, and state functions at appropriate scales. ### Digital Presence and Information Access Saint-Floret maintains a digital presence through its official website, reflecting the broader trend of French municipalities embracing digital governance. The commune's Wikipedia article (titled "Saint-Floret") and Wikidata entry provide additional information resources for residents, researchers, and those interested in the commune. The commune's image documentation, including photographs available through Wikimedia Commons, provides visual records of the settlement's architecture and landscape. These digital resources contribute to the documentation and preservation of France's rural heritage, allowing for the sharing of knowledge about communities like Saint-Floret with a global audience. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. BnF authorities 3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 4. INSEE code 5. répertoire géographique des communes 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. Annuaire de service-public.fr 8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 9. Populations légales 2016 10. Populations légales 2017 11. Populations légales 2018 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. [Source](http://cassini.ehess.fr/cassini/fr/html/fiche.php?select_resultat=31777) 19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 20. GeoNames 21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 22. [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) 23. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c) 24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)