# Saumur

> commune in Maine-et-Loire, France

**Wikidata**: [Q193821](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193821)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saumur)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saumur

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Commune of France, City.
- **Location:** Maine-et-loire department, France; Arrondissement of Saumur; Communauté d'agglomération Saumur Val de Loire.
- **Area:** 66.25 square kilometres.
- **Population:** 26,241 (as of January 1, 2023).
- **Coordinates:** 47.259166666667, -0.078055555555556.
- **Elevation:** Ranges from 20 metres (lowest) to 95 metres (highest), with an average of 40 metres.
- **Timezone:** UTC+01:00 (standard) / UTC+02:00 (daylight saving).
- **Postal Code:** 49400.
- **INSEE Code:** 49328.
- **UN/LOCODE:** FR SAU.
- **Official Website:** http://www.ville-saumur.fr.

## FAQs
**What is the geographical location of Saumur?**
Saumur is situated in the Maine-et-Loire department of France, within the arrondissement of Saumur. It lies along the Loire River at an elevation ranging from 20 to 95 metres above sea level.

**What is the political and administrative status of Saumur?**
The city functions as the capital of both the arrondissement of Saumur and the canton of Saumur, a role it has held since March 22, 2015. Prior to that date, it was the seat of the cantons of Saumur-Nord and Saumur-Sud. The commune is also part of the Communauté d'agglomération Saumur Val de Loire.

**What demographic changes has Saumur experienced?**
The commune's population has fluctuated over the decades, peaking at 32,515 in 1975 before declining. Recent census data shows a population of 26,241 as of January 1, 2023, with 12,521 males and 14,213 females recorded in 2017.

**Who are Saumur's twin towns?**
Saumur is twinned with four international administrative bodies: Havelberg (Germany), Warwick (United Kingdom), Asheville (United States), and Formigine (Italy).

**What are the contact details and digital presence of the Saumur municipality?**
The municipality can be contacted via phone at +33-2-41-83-30-00 or email at contact@saumur.fr. Its official website is http://www.ville-saumur.fr, and it maintains a presence on social media platforms including Twitter (@MairiedeSaumur) and YouTube (Mairie de Saumur).

## Why It Matters
Saumur is a significant administrative hub within the Maine-et-Loire department, serving as the seat of both its arrondissement and canton. Its identity as a historical commune is highlighted by its inclusion in major encyclopedic works such as the Encyclopædia Britannica and The Nuttall Encyclopædia. The city's strategic location on the Loire River and its rich history, evidenced by its various historical names and merged territories, make it a notable location for both governance and heritage in the region. The preservation of its municipal archives (fonds) further underscores its historical importance.

## Notable For
- Serving as the administrative capital for the arrondissement and the canton of Saumur.
- Its historical evolution, having absorbed the former communes of Bagneux, Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, Dampierre-sur-Loire, and Saint-Lambert-des-Levées.
- Its international partnerships with cities in Germany, the UK, the US, and Italy.
- Being a subject of detailed demographic tracking, with census records available from 1968 to 2023.
- Having a distinct coat of arms and dedicated municipal archives.

## Body

### **Geography and Location**
Saumur is located in the Maine-et-Loire department of France, specifically within the arrondissement of Saumur and the Communauté d'agglomération Saumur Val de Loire. The commune is geographically positioned at coordinates 47.259166666667 latitude and -0.078055555555556 longitude. It covers a total area of 66.25 square kilometres. The city is situated in the UTC+01:00 timezone during standard time and switches to UTC+02:00 for daylight saving time.

The commune's topography includes a lowest elevation point of 20 metres and a highest point of 95 metres, with an average elevation of 40 metres. Saumur is bordered by the Loire River and shares its land borders with several neighbouring communes: Allonnes, Distré, Rou-Marson, Souzay-Champigny, Varrains, Verrie, Villebernier, Vivy, Bellevigne-les-Châteaux, and Gennes-Val-de-Loire.

### **Governance and Administration**
As the capital of the arrondissement of Saumur, the city plays a central role in regional administration. Since March 22, 2015, it has served as the seat of the canton of Saumur. Prior to the 2015 reorganization, it was the capital of two separate cantons: Saumur-Nord and Saumur-Sud, a status that ended on March 21, 2015.

The municipal government is headed by the Mayor of Saumur. The administration operates from the city hall, which can be reached by phone at +33-2-41-83-30-00 and by email at contact@saumur.fr. The official website for the commune is http://www.ville-saumur.fr, which provides information in French. The municipality also maintains a specific contact page at https://www.ville-saumur.fr/contact.

Saumur maintains active international relations through town twinning programs with Havelberg, Warwick, Asheville, and Formigine.

### **Demographics**
The population of Saumur has been extensively documented through census data. As of the most recent census on January 1, 2023, the population stands at 26,241. Historical data shows a peak of 32,515 residents in 1975. The population has seen slight fluctuations in recent years:
- 2013: 27,413
- 2015: 27,486
- 2016: 28,554
- 2017: 26,734
- 2018: 26,599
- 2019: 26,467
- 2020: 26,154
- 2021: 26,215
- 2022: 26,074

A breakdown from the 2017 census indicates a female population of 14,213 and a male population of 12,521.

### **Historical Evolution**
The commune of Saumur, officially known by its main alias, has incorporated several former communes over time, including Bagneux, Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, Dampierre-sur-Loire, and Saint-Lambert-des-Levées. The city's history is also preserved in its municipal archives, known as the "archives municipales de Saumur," which maintain a fonds of historical records. The city has been described in historical sources such as The Nuttall Encyclopædia and the 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica.

### **Digital Presence and Identifiers**
Saumur maintains a digital footprint across various platforms. The municipality is active on social media, with a Twitter handle (@MairiedeSaumur) and a YouTube channel (Mairie de Saumur). The YouTube channel, created on August 17, 2011, had accrued 294,971 views as of November 2025.

The commune is indexed in numerous national and international databases and authority files, reflecting its administrative and cultural relevance. Key identifiers include:
- **INSEE Municipality Code:** 49328
- **Postal Code:** 49400
- **UN/LOCODE:** FR SAU
- ** VIAF ID:** 140735482
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n82006706
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 152619276
- **GeoNames ID:** 2975758
- **MusicBrainz Area ID:** a5688ea9-5064-4d14-b41b-0398b279b789

### **Cultural and Civic Assets**
The city's civic identity is represented by its official coat of arms. Saumur also hosts several subsidiaries, identified as Q113238150, Q113238227, Q113238434, and Q113238441, though their specific functions are not detailed. The commune's notable locations and monuments are cataloged, with a list of monuments referenced under Q3252213. The city is categorized under "Category:Saumur" on Wikimedia Commons, which also hosts a gallery and a page banner for the city.

## References

1. [Sandre](https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau/----0000)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
5. INSEE code
6. répertoire géographique des communes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. Annuaire de service-public.fr
10. MusicBrainz
11. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
12. Populations légales 2016
13. Populations légales 2017
14. Populations légales 2018
15. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
16. Populations légales 2019
17. Populations légales 2020
18. Populations légales 2021
19. Populations de référence 2022
20. Populations de référence 2023
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
22. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
23. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
24. GeoNames
25. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/fr.htm)
26. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
27. [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)
28. YouTube API
29. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
30. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/a15799f5-f28b-4889-88b5-664984dc1354)