Localities and districts

• Boudieu on the N122, which is called the Route de Sansac-de-Marmiesse or de Toulouse, is a farm with a farm house from the 1900s and three farm buildings.
• Boudieu-Bas on the N122 is a set of houses built in the 1960s with some buildings used commercially or for crafts.
• Gueret on the N122 is a farm with two houses and two agricultural buildings. This hamlet is traversed by an old country road from a place formerly called Julien from which name for the SNCF Julien Bridge comes. The former Julien is towards the Chateau of Tronquières in the urban area on Avenue Charles de Gaulle opposite the Medico-Surgical Centre (CMC). This farm with its house and barn were absorbed by the city on the creation of a district in the 1970s until the mid 1980s. The agricultural buildings were demolished to make room for a shop.
• La Sablère on the RN122 is a set of dwellings mostly from the 1980s. Originally there was a farm. This place spreads over two communes: Aurillac and Arpajon-sur-Cere with the majority of the buildings in Arpajon-sur-Cere.
• Le Barra near the avenue Aristide Briand, also called the Ancienne route de Vic or the old N120. This is a farm and houses.
• Les Quatre Chemins at the intersection of the D120 and the D922 on the borders of Aurillac, Naucelles, and Ytrac. It is a complex of commercial buildings and residences on the crossroads of the two former National highways.
• Tronquières on an avenue. Originally it was a farm with a chateau but the chateau and outbuildings were demolished in 2011. Today it is a grouping of housing units specializing in housing assistance for the integration of disabled people (ADAPEI) and the airport. It is the reception area for travellers to the city and a former landfill and rubbish centre. Before the construction of the airport the meadows were areas for summer grazing for nearby farms such as the Boudieu farm.

Climate

Influenced by its altitude, Aurillac features an oceanic climate (Cfb), closely bordering on a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) under the Köppen system. In spite of this, the city enjoys more than 2,100 hours of sunshine per year on average, but also a high amount of precipitations per year on average. The record low temperature was −24.5 °C (−12 °F) on 9 January 1985 and the record high was 38.0 °C (100 °F) on 30 July 1983.

Heraldry

Cantons

Aurillac is the capital of the department of Cantal (seat of the prefecture) and of the Arrondissement of Aurillac as well as for three cantons (INSEE names):^[8]

• Aurillac-1: Ytrac and part of Aurillac
• Aurillac-2: part of Aurillac
• Aurillac-3: part of Aurillac

Administration

List of Successive Mayors^[9]

Mayors from 1941

Twinning

Aurillac has twinning associations with:^[10]

• Bocholt (Germany) since 1972.
• Bassetlaw (United Kingdom) since 1980.
• Bougouni (Mali) since 1985.
• Altea (Spain) since 1992.
• Vorona (Romania) since 2000.

Shops

Aurillac has hundreds of boutiques, shops, and artisans.

Industry

• Processing of agricultural products, particularly milk and meat. Manufacturing and packaging of Cantal cheese.
• Historic French capital of umbrellas with half of French production - 250,000 units in 1999 - and provides 100 jobs. After declining for several decades at the end of the 20th century, Aurillac umbrella producers decided to join their forces and created the Economic Interest Group, or GIE in 1997. They then launched their products under a single label, L'aurillac Parapluie (The Aurillac Umbrella).
• Aurillac is also the seat of what was the European leader in healthcare duvets and pillows: Abeil^[14] and the plasturgist Auriplast specializes in injection and electroplating.

Also found in Aurillac are different players in various food fields (e.g. the Couderc distillery with its famous gentian liqueur and famous establishments such as the Leroux and Bonal cheese factories, the Morin refinery, MAS charcuteries, Teil cured by the Altitude group, refrigerated transport operator Olano Ladoux etc.).

Aurillac is best known for its Cheese centre based on the heights of Aurillac close to the Chateau Saint-Étienne. It was established in 1993, the structure consists of an association bringing together many organisations to develop scientific programs. It develops scientific programs relating to the cheese sector.

Data processing

Aurillac hosts several websites:

• video games with Jeuxvideo.com
• trucks with Net-truck^[15]
• aeronautical accessories with Aerodiscount^[16]

Aurillac has also been the headquarters of the ERP vendor Qualiac since 1979.^[17]

Civil heritage

Some of the most interesting sites are:

• The Chateau of Saint-Etienne (9th century) which overlooks the city.^[20]
• The Aurillac National Stud
• The Musée des volcans (Museum of Volcanos), at the château Saint-Étienne
• The Musée d'art et d'archéologie d'Aurillac (Museum of Art and Archaeology), 37 rue des Carmes
• The former Consul's House.^[21]
• The former Présidial
• The former Jesuit College
• The Palace of Justice (1872)^[22]
• The Prison (1855)^[23]
• The Police Station (1872)^[24]
• The Town Hall (17th century)^[25]
• The Prefecture (19th century)^[26]

• The Chateau of Saint-Etienne
• Stairs in the Présidial
• Remains of the Abbey hospital of Saint-Géraud
• The Consul's House
• The Town Hall
• The Palace of Justice
• The Police Station
• The Prison
• The Prefecture
• The Hotel Meynard

Religious heritage

The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

• The Abbey Saint-Géraud (11th century).^[27] The Abbey has several items that are registered as historical objects:
  • The Organ (1760)^[28]
  • The Instrumental part of the Organ (1760)^[29]
  • A Reliquary of Saint Blaise (17th century)^[30]
  • A Reliquary of Saint Benoît (17th century)^[31]
  • A Reliquary of Saint Odon (17th century)^[32]
• The Church of Notre-Dame-aux-Neiges (1332).^[33][34] The chapel contains a large number of items which are registered as historical objects.^[33]
• The Church of Sacré Coeur (1937).^[35] The chapel has one group of items that is registered as an historical object:
  • Interior Decor, Stained glass, Reliefs, paintings, and mosaics (20th century)^[36]
• The Chapel of Aurinques (1616).^[37] The chapel has a number of items that are registered as historical objects:
  • A Bronze Bell (1554)^[38]
  • An Ex-voto Painting: Procession of Acts of Grace (1701)^[39]
  • An Ex-voto Painting: Deliverance of the Town (18th century)^[40]
  • An Ex-voto Painting: Attack on the Town (1701)^[41]
  • A Glass wall: Virgin and Child (163)^[42]
• The Church of Saint-Joseph-Ouvrier (20th century)

• Church of Saint-Géraud (old Abbey)
• Church of Notre-Dame-aux-Neiges
• Nave of the Church of Notre-Dame-aux-Neiges
• Chapel of Aurinques
• Old Abbey Hospital
• Old Abbey Hospital

Cultural facilities

Aurillac has several dance centres:

• Folk dancing: dancers and singers from the Auvergne School
• Conservatory: National School of Music and Dance of Aurillac
• Arabesque;
• Katy Bardy Dance School
• Modern jazz and classical Chorège Dance School;
• La Manufacture: a higher centre of dance, movement, and images created by Vendetta Mathea.
• Society of Upper Auvergne: a Society of letters, sciences and arts "La Haute-Auvergne"
• Theatre 4: rue de la Coste next to the Consul's House
• Le Prisme: conference rooms and entertainment

Cultural events and festivities

• The International festival of street theatre of Aurillac^[43] has been held every year since 1986 at the end of August for a period of four days. Since 2004 this festival has been preceded by "Les préalables" (Preliminaries) of variable duration (often starting in early August) with street performances throughout Cantal (and sometimes even in Corrèze) with the support of the association éclat. 2008 who inaugurated the first "University of Street Art".
• The European gourmet taste for three days in June is a gastronomic and cultural festival during which various prizes are awarded (Les Goudots gourmands) and where there are cooking classes with different themes each year (e.g. 2008: Slow Food) provided by prominent chefs.
• In 2007 there was the first edition of '36 Hours of Aurillac with Solos and small dance pieces.

Sports

• The Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne: the Rugby Team had its 100th anniversary in 2004 and has played in Rugby Pro D2 since 2001, except for 2006-2007 where the "purgatory" in Fédérale 1 ended with the title of champion of France. Since the Second World War the club has always played either in the elite until 1986 (except 1949 and 1955) then later in group A, B, or Pro D2. Aurillac is rugby country as it is one of the few cities where there are more spectators at rugby matches than football matches. Matches take place at the Stade Jean Alric.
• The Athlétic Club Vélocipédique Aurillacois (Cycling Athletic Club): a cycling team founded in 1977 by Pierre Labro and led, since 1983, by André Valadou. In 2011 and 2012 it was the largest cycling club in Auvergne by number of members. In 2013 three riders from the club ranked at the highest level with Christophe Laborie among the professionals and François Bidard and Pierre Bonnet first in the amateur division. With a focus on training, the club sees at least one of its representatives each year wear Auvergne colours during a championship of France.
• The Aurillac FCA: a soccer team playing in CFA2 although the Aurillac reserve team plays in DH Auvergne and is Team C in the Regional Honour Division. Its training centre allows it to have 3 youth teams playing in the national championships (14 years, 16 years, and 18 years - the highest level for these categories).
• Aurillac Handball Cantal Auvergne: a professional Handball team who played in the first division for the 2008–2009 season for the first time in its history
• Basket club Aurillac Arpajon Géraldienne (BAAG): This is the Aurillac Basketball Club. Girls Team 1 plays at the highest regional level. This is the biggest club in the city in terms of members and results. There is also the Cantalienne Club.
• The Jean-Alric Stadium: the Municipal Stadium for the city of Aurillac and its rugby club - the Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne. It owes its name to Jean Alric, a former player of the club, shot in Aurillac by the Germans during the Second World War.
• Volleyball Club (AVB): Aurillac has a volleyball club. The senior male and female teams play in Regional 1. The club has UFOLEP teams and youth teams. The club organises three tournaments open to everyone:
  • A tournament starting in September;
  • A night of volleyball in December (the largest in Auvergne);
  • A Summer tournament in June.

In 2011 Aurillac hosted the start of the Tour de France in the 10th stage.

Places of worship

• Saint Joseph Catholic Church
• Reformed Church of France, 10 rue des Frères-Delmas (Protestant)^[44]
• Evangelical Pentecostal Church - 6 Avenue des Pupilles de la Nation (ADD) (National Evangelical Council of France (CNEF))

Military

Two military units are garrisoned in Aurillac:

• the 139th Infantry Regiment, 1906
• the 2/16 Squadron of riot police which became the 33/5 in 1991 after the creation of legions of riot police then finally the 18/5 in 2011 after the dissolution of the GM group of Clermont-Ferrand.

Aurillac has long been a garrison town with the 139th Infantry Regiment, who are noted for their feats during the Battle of the Somme. They have a remarkable chronology and a cabinet of trophies were displayed in the Hall of Honour of the Departmental Military Delegation who have since moved, forgetting to preserve and safeguard this part of history.

The military square is wide and airy and a feature of military architecture of the time. It is now known as the Zone of Peace and is now converted into a parking lot leaving a clear view of the 3 buildings that surround it. The entrance to the barracks was destroyed and replaced by a modern building. It houses administrative services, treasury, CABA, Mortgages, Cadastre etc. In the 1950s the old military buildings became the "Cité Administrative".

The clock building is called so because of the great clock that adorns this building. It is also commonly called the House of unions and associations. Originally these buildings were the former Convent of the Visitation, built in 1682. The Convent was converted into a barracks for infantry in 1792 and occupied half of the buildings until 1922, hence the transformation of buildings to equestrian use. Today the Pierre-Mendès-France Cultural Centre occupies the premises including the Museum of Art and Archaeology, the County Conservatory of Music and Dance, the youth service activities of the town of Aurillac, and a crèche for children. The Stables were then used by the national stud established by Napoleon in 1806; a depot of stallions was created in Aurillac. At the Battle of Austerlitz Napoleon rode Cantal, a speckled gray horse which is visible in a painting in the Art and Archaeology Museum. When the National Stud moved the stables were transformed into an exhibition hall / gallery and a range of exhibitions is held every year including the Salon des Métiers d'Art d'Aurillac.