Oloron-Sainte-Marie is a city and commune in southwestern France in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture.
In 1858, the communes of Saint-Marie-Legugnon and Oloron were combined to make the new commune of Oloron-Sainte-Marie.
Geography
Oloron-Sainte-Marie is situated at the feet of the Pyrénées, to the south of Pau, from the Spanish border and from the Atlantic Ocean.
The commune has an area of and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .
Through Oloron-Sainte-Marie flows the Gave d'Oloron formed by the confluence of two rivers: the Gave d'Aspe and the Gave d'Ossau that merge to form the Gave d'Oloron. The word gave is a name given to rivers on the mountains in regions of the western Pyrenees.
Population
With a population of 10,794, Oloron-Sainte-Marie has a population density of inhabitants/km2.
The inhabitants of Oloron-Sainte-Marie are known, in French, as Oloronais (women: Oloronaises).
Administration
Oloron-Sainte-Marie is a sous-préfecture in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department since 1800. It is also the capital of two cantons: Oloron-Sainte-Marie-1, formed with a part of Oloron-Sainte-Marie and several communes. Oloron-Sainte-Marie-2, formed with a part of Oloron-Sainte-Marie and several communes.
Gallery
Twin towns
Oloron-Sainte-Marie is twinned with: Jaca, Spain