Bélesta, Pyrénées-Orientales

Bélesta (French pronunciation: [belɛsta] ; Occitan: Bèl Estar; Catalan: Bellestar) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.

Bélesta
Belhestar
A general view of Bélesta
A general view of Bélesta
Coat of arms of Bélesta
Location of Bélesta
Map
Bélesta is located in France
Bélesta
Bélesta
Bélesta is located in Occitanie
Bélesta
Bélesta
Coordinates: 42°43′06″N 2°36′28″E / 42.7183°N 2.6078°E / 42.7183; 2.6078
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentPyrénées-Orientales
ArrondissementPrades
CantonLa Vallée de l'Agly
IntercommunalityRoussillon-Conflent
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Frédéric Bourniole[1]
Area
1
20.52 km2 (7.92 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
212
 • Density10/km2 (27/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
66019 /66720
Elevation122–561 m (400–1,841 ft)
(avg. 380 m or 1,250 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

Localisation edit

Bélesta is located in the canton of La Vallée de l'Agly and in the arrondissement of Perpignan.

 
Map of Bélesta and its surrounding communes

Government and politics edit

Mayors
Mayor Term start Term end
Jacques Biles[3] ? June 1815
Baptiste Pugnaud[3] June 1815 ?
Gilbert Bourniole 2001 2007
Roger Morin 2007 2014
Frédéric Bourniole 2014

Population edit

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 312—    
1975 262−2.46%
1982 247−0.84%
1990 223−1.27%
1999 215−0.41%
2007 214−0.06%
2012 225+1.01%
2017 221−0.36%
Source: INSEE[4]

Sites of interest edit

  • Prehistory museum
  • Bélesta dolmen
  • Bélesta cave
  • Church of Saint Barthelemy in Bélesta
  • Church of Saint Barthelemy in Jonqueroles
  • Llébrès, an abandoned medieval hamlet
  • Caladroy, hamlet with Château de Caladroy and an important winery

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Fabricio Cardenas, Vieux papiers des Pyrénées-Orientales, Bélesta, le 21 juin 1815, 31 january 2014
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE