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

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

History

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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 Le Caunil, established as the separate commune of Salvezines.

Population

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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

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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.