Puilaurens (French pronunciation: [pɥiloʁɑ̃s] , also non-officially: Lapradelle-Puilaurens; Occitan: La Pradèla de Puèglhaurenç) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.

Puilaurens
A general view of Puilaurens
A general view of Puilaurens
Coat of arms of Puilaurens
Location of Puilaurens
Map
Puilaurens is located in France
Puilaurens
Puilaurens
Puilaurens is located in Occitanie
Puilaurens
Puilaurens
Coordinates: 42°48′38″N 2°18′21″E / 42.8106°N 2.3058°E / 42.8106; 2.3058
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentAude
ArrondissementLimoux
CantonLa Haute-Vallée de l'Aude
IntercommunalityPyrénées Audoises
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jacques Galy[1]
Area
1
33.38 km2 (12.89 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
268
 • Density8.0/km2 (21/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
11302 /11140
Elevation399–1,420 m (1,309–4,659 ft)
(avg. 424 m or 1,391 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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

Geography edit

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

History edit

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 edit

Its inhabitants are called Puilaurenois.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962324—    
1968378+16.7%
1975257−32.0%
1982222−13.6%
1990219−1.4%
1999236+7.8%
2006252+6.8%
2007254+0.8%
2012265+4.3%
2015266+0.4%

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.