Montbrison, Loire

Montbrison
Subprefecture
Location of Montbrison
Montbrison
Montbrison
Coordinates: 45°36′30″N 4°03′57″E / 45.6083°N 4.0658°E / 45.6083; 4.0658
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentLoire
ArrondissementMontbrison
CantonMontbrison
IntercommunalityCA Loire Forez
Government
  Mayor (20202026) Christophe Bazile
Area
1
16.33 km2 (6.31 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
16,098
  Density990/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
42147 /42600
Elevation370–552 m (1,214–1,811 ft)
(avg. 399 m or 1,309 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Montbrison (French pronunciation: [mɔ̃bʁizɔ̃]; Arpitan: Montbréson) is a commune and a subprefecture of the Loire department in central France.

Montbrison was the historical capital of the counts of Forez, and today it is the principal city in the Forez.

The commune gives its name to the popular blue cheese Fourme de Montbrison, which has been made in the region for centuries. It received Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée status in 1972.