Istres is a commune in southern France, some 60 km (38 mi) northwest of Marseille. It is in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur |
| Department | Bouches-du-Rhône |
| Canton | Istres |
| Government | |
| Mayor (2020–2026) | François Bernardini |
| Area1 | 113.73 km2 (43.91 sq mi) |
| Population (2017-01-01) | 43,133 |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Location
Istres is adjacent to the Étang de Berre lagoon (the largest in Europe) and the Étang de l’Olivier lagoon. It is located some 60 km (38 mi) north-west of Marseille, 20 km (13 mi) south-west of Salon-de-Provence, 10 km (6 mi) north of Martigues and 45 km (28 mi) south-east of Arles. Istres is also adjacent to the plaine de la Crau and the Camargue national park.
Facilities
Istres is the home of the Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (BA 125). This air base was one of three utilized by NASA as a contingency landing site for the Space Shuttle in the case of a Transoceanic Abort Landing . Istres shared this responsibility with Zaragoza, Spain and Moron, Spain.
Climate
Istres has a Mediterranean climate characterised by mild, humid winters and hot, dry summers. January and February are the coldest months, averaging temperatures of around 7 °C. July and August are the hottest months.
Sports
The city has numerous sports facilities and exactly 102 clubs. Each year, a race is organized around the Étang de l’Olivier. Many runners participate. The town’s main football club is FC Istres.