Murat () is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region in south-central France. On 1 January 2017, the former commune of Chastel-sur-Murat was merged into Murat.Arrêté préfectoral 16 December 2016 Murat is the administrative seat of this new commune.
History
On 24 June 1944, during World War II, 120 Muratais were deported, 80 never returned.
The French people from Murat were deported via Compiègne to the Neuengamme concentration camp and most of them had to work in the subcamp (in German: Außenlager) Farge concentration camp. At begin of June, 2012 a monument in the Memorial wood on the gardening area of former concentration camp was established: It was donated by the city of Murat, to remember what happened in Murat and to commemorate the deported and murdered inhabitants.(fr) Klaus Witzeling: Bekannte Orte, historisch gesehen (title translated to English: Well known places in historical view). In: Hamburger Abendblatt, from May 29, 2012, Beilage Museumswelt Hamburg, Frühjahr 2012, p. 16.Senatorin weiht Mahnmal für Deportierte aus Murat ein (title translated to English: Senator inaugurates the monument for the deported people from Murat). In: Bergedorfer Zeitung, from June 7, 2012. The columns of basalt remember July 1944 when the Maquisards from Murat, Cantal were deported and afterwards murdered in the Neuengamme concentration camp and its affiliates. In total 75 men out of 103 died in the concentration camp.Unrest in Murat
Geography
Location Murat is situated on the eastern edge of the Mounts of Cantal, in the valley of the Alagnon, a tributary of the Allier, which was the principal route for crossing the Massif Central. It is surrounded by three basalt outcrops, the vestiges of former volcanoes, the Rocher de Bredons, where there is a priory church dating from the 12th century, the rocher de Bonnevie, where there is an 8-metre high statue of the Virgin Mary known as Notre-Dame de la Haute-Auvergne, and the Rocher de Chastel, where the 12th century chapel of St Antoine stands. A market is held every Friday.
Population
Population data refer to the area corresponding with the commune as of January 2025.
Administration Mayor (maire in French) of the municipal council: Name Start End Notes Martine Mahtouk 2001 2008Emmanuel Grèze 1983 2001Former General councillor(Conseiller généralGeneral councils of France); Conseiller RégionalJean Meyniel19771983Antoine Tabayse19691977Joseph Constant19681969Hector Peschaud19461968Antoine Combes19441946Hector Peschaud19281944Gabriel Peschaud18971928DéputéRaymond Teissèdre18961897 Leon Auguste Teillard Chabrier18951896 Maurice guibalended the building of The Villa or Castel Marguerite in Neussargues-Moissac.18811895républicain General councillor (conseiller général)Pierre Hector Veisseyre12 February 1878Joseph Léon Dubois3 November 1874Félix Robert13 February 1874Pierre Hector Veisseyre19 June 1871Alfred Talandier Espinasse29 September 1856Identité=Emile Teissèdre24 July 1852Jean Baptiste Rhodes11 November 1848Pierre Duclos2 May 1848Jules Teillard Laterisse29 December 1843François Escaille10 July 1833Antoine Talandier Lespinasse11 October 1830Jean baptiste Marcombes30 December 1825Identité=Pierre Maynobe16 June 1819Jean Raymond Rancillac de Chazelles11 November 1815Antoine Gazard5 July 1815Claude Amable Tournier5 June 1815Antoine Gazardmessidor an XCérice Bonaventure Teillard Chambon1st prairial an VIIMunicipalités de cantonFrom An IV to An VIIIJoseph Dubois11 brumaire an IIIFrançois Teillard Beynac2 December 1792Cérice Bonaventure Teillard Chambon28 October 1792Antoine Dominique Chabanon15 May 1791Antoine Roux15 July 1790Etienne de Montreuil de Charmanière9 February 1790Some information is quoted from the article of Mr. Philippart: Murat à la fin du XIXe siècle: une cité, un maire, un journal.
Personalities Olivier Magne Raymond Leopold Bruckberger, Raymond Leopol Bruckberger Notice biographique de l'Académie des sciences morales et politiques writer Henri de Castellane, politician. His grandson was Paul Ernest Boniface de Castellane who married Anna Gould
See also Communes of the Cantal department
References
External links
Volcano park of Auvergne on the UNEP-WCMC site Albepierre-Bredons