Montbrison, Loire

Montbrison
Montbréson (Arpitan)
Collégiale Notre-Dame d'Espérance de Montbrison
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 (2020–2026) Christophe Bazile (DVD)
Area
1
16.33 km2 (6.31 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)
16,123
 • Density987.3/km2 (2,557/sq mi)
DemonymMontbrisonnais
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)
Websiteville-montbrison.fr
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 subprefecture and commune of the Loire department in central France. Montbrison was the historical capital of the counts of Forez; today it is the principal city in Forez.

The city 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.