L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre

L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre (French pronunciation: [lɔspitalɛ pʁɛ lɑ̃dɔʁ], literally L'Hospitalet near the Andorra; Occitan: L'Espitalet) is a commune in the Ariège department of southwestern France.

L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
A general view of L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
A general view of L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
Location of L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
Map
L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre is located in France
L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre is located in Occitanie
L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
Coordinates: 42°35′30″N 1°48′14″E / 42.5917°N 1.8039°E / 42.5917; 1.8039
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentAriège
ArrondissementFoix
CantonHaute-Ariège
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Arnaud Diaz[1]
Area
1
26.12 km2 (10.08 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
105
 • Density4.0/km2 (10/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
09139 /09390
Elevation1,279–2,816 m (4,196–9,239 ft)
(avg. 1,446 m or 4,744 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The area has a history of vulnerability to winter avalanches: one such in 1895 killed 12 (nearly 10% of the commune's population at the time), and much destruction was also caused in 1906 and 1929.[3][4] Avalanches have from time to time blocked the N20, the main road through the commune, the most recent case being in 2008.[5]

Transport

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The Andorre-L'Hospitalet station – served by TER Occitanie regional trains between Toulouse and Latour-de-Carol and the overnight Intercités de nuit service between Paris and Latour-de-Carol – is an important international transport node for the nearby principality of Andorra, to which the station is connected by a bus link.

Local government

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The village has a Mairie from which local government is organised. There is an elected mayor. The office is currently held by Arnaud Diaz.

 
Interior of the parish church at L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre.

Community facilities

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There is a hotel in the village centre, the Hôtel du Puymorens, which has both a bar and a restaurant open to non-residents, and available to local residents. There is also a small guest house in the main street, operated as part of the French Gîtes system, with a small shop for essential supplies. There are few businesses trading in the village, although there is a small engineering company. There is a primary school, whose buildings include a residential youth centre for visiting groups. A school bus visits L'Hospitalet daily to transport older children to secondary school.

Religion

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Roman Catholicism is the only organised religion in the community. There is a parish church, with churchyard, in the main street. Although the village has no resident priest, services are held regularly.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962129—    
1968161+24.8%
1975186+15.5%
1982171−8.1%
1990146−14.6%
1999166+13.7%
200889−46.4%

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. ^ Risques avalanches "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). (in French)
  4. ^ Notice sur les avalanches constatées et leur environnement, [1][permanent dead link] (in French)
  5. ^ L'Hospitalet. La RN 20 coupée à cause d'une avalanche, 17 Dec 2008. [2]. (in French)
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