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| Pyrénées-Orientales | |
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| Missing image Blason_france_XXX_petit.jpg Coat of Arms of Pyrénées-Orientales Details | |
| Information | |
| Number | 66 |
| Region | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Prefecture | Perpignan |
| Subprefecture | Céret Prades |
| Population | Ranked 57th
95 /km² |
| Area | 4,115 km²; |
| Arrondissements | 3 |
| Cantons | 31 |
| Communes | 226 |
| President of the general council | Christian Bourquin |
| Location | |
| Missing image Carte_France_Département_66.png Location of Pyrénées-Orientales in France | |
Pyrénées-Orientales (Eastern Pyrenees) is a département of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea.
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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 Catalan language is estimated to be spoken by rather more than a quarter of the population and understood by more than 40%.
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.
ca:Pirineus Orientals de:Pyrénées-Orientales es:Pirineos Orientales eo:Orientaj Pireneoj fr:Pyrénées-Orientales it:Pirenei orientali nl:Pyrénées-Orientales sv:Pyrénées-Orientales