CRANSAC

cransac, a town of southern france, in the department of aveyron, 28m. n.w. of rodez by rail. pop. (1906) town, 4988; commune, 6953. the town is a coal-mining centre and has cold mineral springs, known in the middle ages. there are iron-mines in the neighbourhood. hills to the north of the town contain disused coal-mines which have been on fire for centuries. about 5 m. to the south is the fine renaissance chateau of bournazel, built for the most part by jean de buisson, baron of bournazel, about 1545. the barony of bournazel became a marquisate in 1624.