Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert

Commune in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

(2020–2026) Daniel Fernandez^[1]Area46.62 km² (18.00 sq mi)Population206 • Density4.4/km² (11/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal codeElevation527–1,447 m (1,729–4,747 ft)
(avg. 591 m or 1,939 ft)¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ nazɛʁ lə dezɛʁ]; Occitan: Sant Nazari dau Desert) is a commune in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.^[3]

History

Archaeology suggests that people have settled in the area for over six thousand years. Fragments of Iron Age vases for roasting wheat have been found in the area. There is also a ruined castle, sacred architecture and a sixteenth-century church on water.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	257	—
1975	205	−3.18%
1982	197	−0.57%
1990	168	−1.97%
1999	183	+0.95%
2009	140	−2.64%
2014	158	+2.45%
2020	208	+4.69%
Source: INSEE[4]

Economy

The French goat's cheese Picodon is made in and around the area of Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert. Lavender is grown locally and products containing lavender are popular.

See also

• Communes of the Drôme department

References