Montélimar (French pronunciation: [mɔ̃telimaʁ] ; Vivaro-Alpine: Montelaimar pronounced [muntelajˈma]; Latin: Acumum) is a town in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France. It is the second-largest town in the department after Valence. In 2018, the commune had a population of 39,415; its urban area had a population of 57,372.

The site where the city of Montélimar stands today has been inhabited since the Celtic era. It was reconstructed during the Roman reign, including a basilica, aqueducts, thermae and a forum. The Adhémar family reigned over the city in the Middle Ages and built a castle (Château des Adhémar) which dominates the city silhouette even today.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 6,240 —     1800 6,320 +0.18% 1806 5,864 −1.24% 1821 7,161 +1.34% 1831 7,560 +0.54% 1836 7,966 +1.05% 1841 8,245 +0.69% 1846 9,445 +2.75% 1851 9,362 −0.18% 1856 11,523 +4.24% 1861 12,044 +0.89% 1866 11,100 −1.62% 1872 11,122 +0.03% 1876 11,946 +1.80% 1881 12,894 +1.54% 1886 14,014 +1.68% 1891 13,764 −0.36% 1896 13,741 −0.03%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 13,351 −0.57% 1906 13,554 +0.30% 1911 13,281 −0.41% 1921 11,716 −1.25% 1926 11,210 −0.88% 1931 13,696 +4.09% 1936 15,187 +2.09% 1946 15,972 +0.51% 1954 16,639 +0.51% 1962 19,999 +2.33% 1968 26,748 +4.97% 1975 28,058 +0.69% 1982 29,161 +0.55% 1990 29,982 +0.35% 1999 31,344 +0.49% 2007 34,636 +1.26% 2012 35,704 +0.61% 2017 39,097 +1.83%
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

• French navigator Louis de Freycinet and Émile Loubet, President of France from 1899 till 1906, who served also as mayor of Montélimar.
• Formula One racing driver Charles Pic, brother and fellow racing driver Arthur Pic and motorcycle racer Sylvain Guintoli.
• Encyclopédiste Antoine Penchenier (died in 1761) at an unknown date.
• Physician and Encyclopédiste Jean-Joseph Menuret (1739–1815) was born in Montélimar
• Louis Deschamps (1846 - 1902) was born in Montélimar
• Singer, writer, actress, TV host and fashion designer Marianne James was born in Montélimar in 1962.
• Michèle Rivasi (1953-2023), elected member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2023, was born in Montélimar.
• The racing drivers and brothers Charles Pic and Arthur Pic were born in Montélimar

The local nougat is one of the 13 desserts of Provence and highly appreciated throughout the country. Montelimar nougat is mentioned in the opening lines of the Beatles' "Savoy Truffle" from The White Album. Travellers used to buy nougat de Montélimar on their way to the south of France (or when returning) as the city is next to the Rhône and to the primary route N7. Since the construction of the A7 autoroute, many nougat factories have been forced to close as tourists no longer stop in Montélimar but bypass it instead.

Montélimar has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) according to the Köppen climate classification.

Montélimar is twinned with:

• Communes of the Drôme department

• Official website
• "Montélimar" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.