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Pyrénées-Orientales

Pyrénées-Orientales
Coat of Arms of Pyrénées-Orientales
Details
Information
Number 66
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Prefecture Perpignan
Subprefecture Céret
Praof
Population


 - Total (1999)
 - Density

Ranked 57th


392 803


95 /km²
Area 4,115 km²;
Arrondissements 3
Cantons 31
Communes 226
President of the
general council
Christian Bourquin
Location
Location of Pyrénées-Orientales in France

Pyrenées-Orientales (Eastern Pyrenees) is a département of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea.

Contents

History

Pyrénées-Orientales corresponds largely to the former province of Roussillon (French Catalonia), which it replaced in 1790. See also: Cerdanya.

For history to 1790, see Roussillon.

Invaded by Spain in April 1793, the area was recaptured thirteen months later.

Administration

Pyrenées-Orientales is grouped with neighbouring Aude and three other départements to the north-east in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon.

Geography

Pyrénées-Orientales has an area of 4115 sq. km. and a population of 400,000, of whom just over a quarter live in the capital, Perpignan (Catalan Perpinyà). Other towns include Argelès-sur-Mer , Thuir , Elne (the ancient Illiberis) and Prades (Catalan Prada de Conflent ), each of 6-10,000 inhabitants.

Pyrenées-Orientales consists of three river valleys in the Pyrenees mountain range - from north to south, those of the Agly , Têt and Tech - and the eastern Plain of Roussillon into which they converge. Most of the population and agricultural production are concentrated in the plain, with only 30% of the area.

The upper Tech valley comprises the département's westernmost third, with just over a tenth of the total population. To the south-east, the Têt valley and the Côte Vermeille contain nearly 100,000 inhabitants. The Agly basin in the north-east has much in common with neighboring areas of Aude.

Economy

Pyrénées-Orientales is a wine-growing area and a tourist destination.

Demographics

The Catalan language is estimated to be spoken by rather more than a quarter of the population and understood by more than 40%.

Culture

Places of interest include:

  • Prades (Catalan Prada de Conflent) - site of the Catalan Summer University (Universitat Catalana d'Estiu).
  • Banyuls-sur-Mer (Catalan Banyuls de la Marenda) famous for its Muscat wine, birth place of Aristide Maillol.
  • Prats de Molló - important defensive castle of the 17th century facing south to the Pyrenees.
  • Salses - important defensive castle of the 16th century, on the ancient frontier with Spain.



Last updated: 11-01-2004 05:09:22