kotamadya (city), located in northeastern Jawa Barat (West Java) provinsi (province), Indonesia, on the Java Sea. The Cirebon area was for centuries a centre of Islam and generated much of the opposition to Dutch rule. The northern half of the region is often flat and marshy, while the southern half is mountainous. Southwest of the city the huge volcano Mount Ciremay rises to 10,098 feet (3,078 metres). Sulfur and hot springs occur on the volcano's slopes. The surrounding area grows tea, rice, tobacco, essential oils, sugarcane, cinchona, cassava, peanuts (groundnuts), and pulses. Kuningan, famous for a breed of horses, is a hill resort at 2,200 feet.

The city has a good open roadstead, quays, and warehousing and is a railway hub with a small airport. In November 1946 the Dutch-Indonesian pact recognizing the original Republic of Indonesia was drafted at Linggadyati, a resort village just south of Cirebon. Pop. (2000) 272,263.