Aurillac, France

Capital City

Living in Aurillac requires a thick skin. This prefecture of the Cantal department has a population of just 26,214, and its location in the Cantal mountains means a harsh, wet climate with over 2,100 hours of sunshine per year on average. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city's history marked by "municipal conflict" between local authorities. However, Aurillac has a lively cultural scene, from an international street theater festival to a cheese industry that reflects the local agricultural heritage. For hardy souls seeking a slice of rural French life, Aurillac may be the place.