Arrien-en-Bethmale (French pronunciation: [aʁjɛ̃ ɑ̃ bɛtmal]; Occitan: Arrienh de Vathmala) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.

Arrien-en-Bethmale
A general view of Arrien-en-Bethmale
A general view of Arrien-en-Bethmale
Location of Arrien-en-Bethmale
Map
Arrien-en-Bethmale is located in France
Arrien-en-Bethmale
Arrien-en-Bethmale
Arrien-en-Bethmale is located in Occitanie
Arrien-en-Bethmale
Arrien-en-Bethmale
Coordinates: 42°53′51″N 1°02′32″E / 42.8975°N 1.0422°E / 42.8975; 1.0422
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentAriège
ArrondissementSaint-Girons
CantonCouserans Ouest
IntercommunalityCC Couserans - Pyrénées
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Pierre Gaston[1]
Area
1
14.59 km2 (5.63 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
112
 • Density7.7/km2 (20/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
09017 /09800
Elevation598–2,085 m (1,962–6,841 ft)
(avg. 620 m or 2,030 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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Arrien-en-Bethmale consists of the villages of Aret, Arrian, Tournac, and Villargein, all located in the Pyrenees mountains in the Bethmale valley in the former province of Couserans some 12 km south-west of Saint-Girons and 3 km south of Castillon-en-Couserans. It is part of the Regional Natural Park of Pyrenees Ariège. Access to the commune is by the D17 road from Les Bordes-sur-Lez in the north-west passing through the commune and the village and continuing south-east to Bethmale. The commune is a rugged alpine commune heavily forested in many parts.[3]

The Ruisseau de Cournelliere and the De Leaude rise north-east of the village and flow down to the south-west to join the Balamet river which flows down the valley to join the Lez north-west of the commune just south of Les Bordes-sur-Lez. The Ruisseau de Mourtis flows through the south of the commune also into the Lez.[3]

Neighbouring communes and villages

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[3]

History

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The commune was created in 1931 when it separated from the commune of Bethmale.[4]

Arrien-en-Bethmale has a very ancient history, as evidenced by the discovery of a funerary inscription dating probably from the 1st century.

Administration

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List of Successive Mayors[5]

From To Name
2001 2008 Robert Soubie
2008 2020 Gérard Pons
2020 2026 Jean-Pierre Gaston

Demography

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The inhabitants of the commune are known as Arrienois or Arrienoises in French.[6]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1931 551—    
1936 430−4.84%
1946 358−1.82%
1954 273−3.33%
1962 242−1.50%
1968 186−4.29%
1975 143−3.69%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1982 89−6.55%
1990 89+0.00%
1999 110+2.38%
2007 102−0.94%
2012 106+0.77%
2017 111+0.93%
Source: EHESS[4] and INSEE[7]
 
A Street in Arrien-en-Bethmale
 
The Lavoir (Public Laundry)
 
The Church
 
Funerary inscription of Fuscus (1st century) found in Arrien-en-Bethmale

Culture and heritage

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Religious heritage

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The Church contains several items that are registered as historical objects:

Notable people linked to the commune

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  • Roman Caramalli as monk for the Parish from 1999 to 2005 contributed to the recognition of the commune by promoting local culture.

See also

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References

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  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" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Google Maps
  4. ^ a b Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Arrien-en-Bethmale, EHESS (in French).
  5. ^ List of Mayors of France (in French)
  6. ^ Le nom des habitants du 09 - Ariège, habitants.fr
  7. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  8. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM09000032 Altar, Retable, Tabernacle, 3 Statues, and a Painting (in French) 
  9. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM09000031 2 Candlesticks (in French) 
  10. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM09000030 Altar, Retable, Tabernacle, 2 Paintings, and 2 Bas-Reliefs (in French) 
  11. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM09000029 Altar, Retable, Tabernacle, 3 Statues, and a Painting (in French) 
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