Puilaurens Explained

Puilaurens
Commune Status:Commune
Image Coat Of Arms:Blason ville fr Lapradelle-Puilaurens (Aude).svg
Arrondissement:Limoux
Canton:La Haute-Vallée de l'Aude
Insee:11302
Postal Code:11140
Mayor:Jacques Galy[1]
Term:2020 - 2026
Intercommunality:Pyrénées Audoises
Coordinates:42.8106°N 2.3058°W
Elevation M:424
Elevation Min M:399
Elevation Max M:1420
Area Km2:33.38

Puilaurens (in French pronounced as /pɥiloʁɑ̃s/, also non-officially: Lapradelle-Puilaurens; Occitan (post 1500);: La Pradèla de Puèglhaurenç) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.

It includes the hamlets of Lapradelle, Puilaurens and Lavignac. It is known for the medieval Puilaurens Castle.

Geography

The commune is situated on the Boulzane river and the Green Meridian.

History

The built-up area of Lapradelle did not exist until the 19th century and owes its development to activities related to water power taken from the Boulzane: textile spinning and sawmills.

In 1904, a railway was constructed from Quillan to Rivesaltes (the Carcassonne - Rivesaltes Line) passing through Lapradelle on a viaduct spanning the valley of the Boulzane. The line carried passengers until 1939. Afterwards it was used to transport feldspar between the Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales, the railway line is today used in the summer for a tourist train, running between Axat and Rivesaltes.

In 1868, Puilaurens lost the hamlets of Salvezines and Caunil, established as the separate commune of Salvezines.

Population

Its inhabitants are called Puilaurenois.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Répertoire national des élus: les maires. data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 2 December 2020. fr.