Saint-Lizier

{{Infobox French commune

|name = Saint-Lizier

|commune status = Commune

|image = Saint-Lizier- Cloître.jpg

|caption = Saint-Lizier cloister

|image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Saint-Lizier.svg

|arrondissement = Saint-Girons

|canton = Portes du Couserans

|INSEE = 09268

|postal code = 09190

|mayor = Michel Pichan{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}

|term = 2020–2026

|intercommunality = Couserans-Pyrénées

|coordinates = {{coord|43.0028|1.1375|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

|elevation m = 484

|elevation min m = 368

|elevation max m = 578

|area km2 = 9.01

|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}

|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}

|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}

}}

Saint-Lizier ({{IPA|fr|sɛ̃ lizje}}; {{langx|oc|Sent Líser}}) is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France, situated on the river Salat.

History

Saint-Lizier has a rich history stretching back to pre Gallo-Roman times. In 72 BC, Pompey, returning from his triumphs in Spain against Sertorius, stopped here. He gathered together the ancient tribes of the area under the name Consorani. The ramparts seen today date from 3rd century AD and enclose the oppidum.

During the fifth century, the citadel became an episcopal see, the oldest in the Ariège area. Its first bishop is thought to have been Saint Valier. The town is named in honor of its 6th Century bishop Lycerius, canonized as Saint Lizier, a bishop who participated in the Council of Agde in 506. The town has two former cathedrals: Saint-Lizier Cathedral (now the parish church) and Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède Cathedral.