Aleu (French pronunciation: [alø]; Occitan: Àleu) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of southwestern France.
Aleu | |
|---|---|
 The road into Aleu | |
Location of Aleu  | |
  Aleu  Aleu | |
| Coordinates: 42°53′37″N 1°16′01″E / 42.8936°N 1.2669°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Ariège |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Girons |
| Canton | Couserans Est |
| Intercommunality | Couserans-Pyrénées |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | André Vidal[1] |
| Area 1 | 13.95 km2 (5.39 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 126 |
| • Density | 9.0/km2 (23/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 09005 /09320 |
| Elevation | 496–1,105 m (1,627–3,625 ft) (avg. 700 m or 2,300 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Geography
edit
Aleu is located some 10 km south-east of Saint-Girons and 30 km west by south-west of Foix. It can be accessed by the D618 road coming from the west and following the northern border of the commune continuing to Biert in the east. The only access to the village by vehicle is by a small mountain road branching from the D618 at Castet d'Aleu. There is a small unsealed airstrip north-east of the village at approx 1000m altitude. The commune is very rugged with extensive forests. Apart from the village, there are numerous hamlets: Castet d'Aleu, Galas d'en Bas and Galas d'en Haut, La Trappe, La Bordasse, Biech, Pinsou, La Rouere and Fontale.[3]
The Ruisseau d'Aleu rises in the south of the commune and flows north through the centre of the commune and the village gathering many tributaries and continues to join the Arac which forms the entire northern border of the commune. The Ruisseau de Loule forms most of the eastern border and also flows into the Arac. In the west the Ruisseau de Regude forms most of the border and flows north-west to join the Arac north-west of the commune.[3]
Neighbouring communes and villages
editHistory
editThe commune of Aleu was created in the French Revolution superseding the Community of Aleu which was detached in 1776 from that of Soulan.
Administration
editList of successive mayors[4]
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2008 | Louis Gilabert |
| 2008 | 2026 | André Vidal |
Population
editThe inhabitants of the commune are known as Aleudiens or Aleudiennes in French.[5]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 211 | — |
| 1975 | 135 | −6.18% |
| 1982 | 127 | −0.87% |
| 1990 | 134 | +0.67% |
| 1999 | 122 | −1.04% |
| 2007 | 143 | +2.01% |
| 2012 | 134 | −1.29% |
| 2017 | 130 | −0.60% |
| Source: INSEE[6] | ||
Sites and monuments
edit
- Joubac, a small peak just above Aleu, has an altiport with a view of all the surrounding mountains and the Mont Valier mountain chain[7]
- The Church of Saint Benedict contains a 12th-century font
which is registered as an historical object.[8] - Church of Saint Roch and Saint Germaine at Castet d'Aleu (windows from the 19th century)
- Castelet of Castet at Aleu dating from the 12th or 13th century
Notable people linked to the commune
edit- Léopold Galy, born in Aleu on 12 March 1908 and died at Toulouse on 17 February 2001, was a French aviator and test pilot
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
- ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Google Maps
- ^ List of Mayors of France
- ^ Le nom des habitants du 09 - Ariège, habitants.fr
- ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- ^ LE PANORAMA DE JOUBAC, (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM09000003 Bénitier (in French)
External links
edit- Aleu on the old IGN website (in French)
- Aleu on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website (in French)
- Aleu on the 1750 Cassini Map
