Pyrénées-Orientales
From Freepedia
| Pyrénées-Orientales | |
|---|---|
| Image:Blason66.PNG Details | |
| Information | |
| Number | 66 |
| Region | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Prefecture | Perpignan |
| Subprefectures | Céret Prades |
| Population -Total (1999) -Density | Ranked 57th 392,803 95/km² |
| Area | 4116 km² |
| Arrondissements | 3 |
| Cantons | 31 |
| Communes | 226 |
| President of the General Council | Christian Bourquin |
| Location | |
| Image:Carte France Département 66.png | |
Pyrénées-Orientales (Eastern Pyrenees, Catalan: Pirineus Orientals) 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: Cerdagne.
For history to 1790, see Roussillon.
Invaded by Spain in April 1793, the area was recaptured thirteen months later.
Administration
Pyrénées-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.
Pyrénées-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 French language is spoken by all the population.
The Catalan language is estimated to be spoken by rather more than a quarter of the population and understood by more than 40%, due both to the Catalan history of the region and the proximity of the principality of Catalonia, where Catalan is official.
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.
| Départements of France | Image:Flag of France.svg |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 2A | 2B | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | |
| Les DOM-TOM: 971 | 972 | 973 | 974 | 975 | 976 | 986 | 987 | 988 | French Southern Territories | Îles Éparses | |
| Administrative divisions of France: régions - départements - arrondissements - cantons - communes | |
