| Aude | |
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| Coat of arms of the Aude department | |
| Location | |
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| Administration | |
| Department number: | 11 |
| Region: | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Prefecture: | Carcassonne |
| Subprefectures: | Limoux Narbonne |
| Arrondissements: | 3 |
| Cantons: | 35 |
| Communes: | 438 |
| President of the General Council: | Marcel Rainaud PS |
| Statistics | |
| Population | Ranked 71st |
| -1999 | 309,770 |
| Population density: | 50/km² |
| Land area¹: | 6139 km² |
| ¹ French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km². The term administration, as used in the context of Government, differs according to Jurisdiction. In the context of the political and geographic organization of France and many of its former colonies a department (département depaʁtǝmɑ̃ is an Administrative division France is divided into 26 regions or régions (in French of which 21 are in continental Metropolitan France, one is the island of Corsica, Languedoc-Roussillon ( Occitan: Lengadòc-Rosselhon; Catalan: Llenguadoc-Rosselló) is one of the 26 regions of France. A prefecture ( préfecture) in France can refer to: the Chef-lieu de département, the town in which the administration of a ''département'' Carcassonne (Carcassona is a fortified French town in the Aude département, of which it is the Prefecture, Subprefectures (sous-préfectures are the administrative towns of arrondissements in France that do not contain the prefecture for its department. Limoux is a market town and sub-prefecture in the French département of Aude, a part of the ancient Languedoc Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the The 100 French departments are divided into 342 arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts. The 3 arrondissements of the Aude department are Arrondissement of Carcassonne, ( prefecture of the Aude department The cantons of France are territorial subdivisions of the French Republic's 341 arrondissements and 100 departments. The following is a list of the 35 cantons of the Aude department, in France, sorted by arrondissement: Arrondissement The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. The following is a list of the 438 communes of the Aude département in France. In France, the President of the General Council (French Président du conseil général) is the locally-elected head of the General Council, the assembly The Socialist Party ( Parti Socialiste, PS is the largest left-wing political party in France. As of January 1, 2008, 64473140 people live in the French Republic. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open | |
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Aude (Occitan: Aude) is a department in south-central France named after the Aude River. Occitan ( IPA BrE: /ˈɒksɪtn/ AmE: /ˈɑksəˌtɑn/ known also as Lenga d'òc or Langue d'oc (native name occitan In the context of the political and geographic organization of France and many of its former colonies a department (département depaʁtǝmɑ̃ is an Administrative division This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Aude River ( Latin Atax) is a River of southwestern France. The local council also calls the department "Cathar Country".
Aude is also a frequent feminine French given name in Francophone countries, deriving initially from Aude or Oda, a wife of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine and mother of Saint Hubertus's brother Eudo. The Duke of Aquitaine ( French: Duc d'Aquitaine) ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of the Frankish and later the Saint Hubertus or Hubert (born c 656 to 658 probably in Toulouse; died May 30, 727 or 728 in Tervuren near Brussels
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History
The Roman road Via Domitia crossed Aude in classical times. The Roman Roads were essential for the growth of the Roman Empire, by enabling the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate news The Via Domitia was the first Roman road built in Gaul, to link Italy and Hispania through Gallia Narbonensis, across what is
Aude was the center of the Cathars, a 10th-century dualistic and Gnostic Christian sect. Dualism denotes a state of two parts The word's origin is the Latin duo, "two". Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems
The present department is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 1790 ( MDCCXC) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc. Languedoc ( in French Lengadòc in Occitan) is a former Province of France, now continued in the modern-day ''régions'' of Languedoc-Roussillon
Geography
Aude is located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees mountains. The Pyrenees (Pirineos French: Pyrénées; Catalan: Pirineus; Occitan: Pirenèus; Aragonese: Perinés
It is part of the current region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Languedoc-Roussillon ( Occitan: Lengadòc-Rosselhon; Catalan: Llenguadoc-Rosselló) is one of the 26 regions of France. It is surrounded by the departments of Pyrénées-Orientales, Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Tarn, and Hérault, with the Golfe du Lion on the east. Pyrénées-Orientales (Eastern Pyrenees Pirineus Orientals Pirenèus Orientals is a department of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier Ariège ( Occitan: Arièja) is a department in southwestern France named after the Ariège River. Haute-Garonne ( Occitan: Nauta Garona; English: Upper Garonne) is a department in the southwest of France named after the Hérault ( Occitan: Erau) is a department in the southwest of France named after the Hérault river. The Gulf of Lion (French Golfe du Lion is a wide Embayment of the Mediterranean coastline of Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence in
Climate
Aude is under the influence of a Mediterranean climate.
The autumn is characterized by violent and short storms. The summer is often hot and dry, which is favorable to the culture of the vine and the olive-trees. Yet, the department is has several contrasts in climate: In the north, the Montagne Noire and, in the south, the Pays de Sault, have a mountainous climate with temperatures sometimes very low in winter. In the west, the climate is under Aquitaine influence with heavier precipitation while in the east the climate is purely Mediterranean. In the centre, in the Limouxin, Carcassonnais and of Razès areas, the climate is known as intermediary with significant exposure to winds. The winds are often present in Aude. It is one of the windiest French department, with 300 to 350 days of wind per year. This phenomenon is mostly due to the variations in relief north and south which create a kind of corridor.
In the north-west blows the Cers, called Tramontane in Provence, which is a ground wind. It is a dry, somewhat violent wind and cold in winter. In the south-east blows the Autan, locally called the Marin, which is hot and wet and comes from the sea.
These regular winds made it possible to install a park of wind mills, as in the area of Avignonet-Lauragais.
Tourism
Carcassonne has been restored to much of its medieval glory. Carcassonne (Carcassona is a fortified French town in the Aude département, of which it is the Prefecture, Narbonne attracts many tourists to its Roman ruins. Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Other towns and villages worth visiting include Limoux, Quillan, Lezignan - Corbières, Lagrasse, Sigean and Leucate. Limoux is a market town and sub-prefecture in the French département of Aude, a part of the ancient Languedoc Quillan is a commune in the Aude département in southwestern France. Lagrasse is a commune in the Aude département in southwestern France. Sigean is a commune in the Aude département in southwestern France. Leucate is a commune in the Aude département in southwestern France. Limoux lies in the upper Aude valley, 24 km south of Carcassonne. Limoux is a market town and sub-prefecture in the French département of Aude, a part of the ancient Languedoc Carcassonne (Carcassona is a fortified French town in the Aude département, of which it is the Prefecture, It is particularly noted for its local wine, Blanquette, a sparkling white wine which is said to have been the forerunner of Champagne. Limoux wine is produced around the city of Limoux in Languedoc in southwestern France. Champagne is a Sparkling wine produced by inducing the in-bottle Secondary fermentation of Wine to effect Carbonation. Limoux hosts an extensive and varied market each Friday. Quillan lies 27 km further south in the upper Aude valley and is at the head of the branch railway from Carcassonne. Carcassonne (Carcassona is a fortified French town in the Aude département, of which it is the Prefecture, Lezignan-Corbières lies on the main road between Carcassonne and Narbonne. Carcassonne (Carcassona is a fortified French town in the Aude département, of which it is the Prefecture, Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the It is called the capital of the Corbières and has an excellent Wednesday morning market. Corbières is the largest Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the Languedoc-Roussillon, encompassing an enormous variety of soil types and Microclimates Lagrasse is listed as one of the most attractive villages in France. Lagrasse is a commune in the Aude département in southwestern France. It stands on the River Orbieu and has an 8th century abbey, two very attractive bridges and an unchanged and very compact and delightful medieval stone village centre. The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Sigean, 18 km south of Narbonne, lies between the A9 Autoroute and the coast and has an African Reserve. Sigean is a commune in the Aude département in southwestern France. Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the A game reserve is an area of land set aside for maintenance of wildlife for tourism or Hunting purposes Leucate is an attractive hilltop village, about 30 km south of Narbonne, which has spread down to the coast where Leucate Plage is a popular beach resort. Leucate is a commune in the Aude département in southwestern France.
The Corbières Hills form the central part of the department. This is an area of dissected plateaux and escarpments which form an effective barrier to direct road communication. It is a very attractive and sometimes wild area of steep hills, hidden valleys, woodland and vines, and contains some of the most memorable Cathar sites including Quéribus, Peyrepertuse and Villerouge-Termenès. The Château de Quéribus (in Occitan Castèl de Queribús) is a ruined Castle in the commune of Cucugnan in the Aude Peyrepertuse is a ruined fortress and one of the so-called Cathar Castles located high in the French Pyrénées in the commune of Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse Villerouge-Termenès is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.
Wine production is extensive across Aude, and local chateaux and domaines provide free tastings as well as sales of wine and other local produce. With the decline of some local wine production, local government policy is now to attract more tourists to the area, and to assist with this the Corbières area is now labelled on maps and road signs as Cathar country.
See also
- Cantons of the Aude department
- Communes of the Aude department
- Arrondissements of the Aude department
External links
- (French) General council website
- (French) Prefecture website
- (French) Photos of the Aude Department
- Photographs of the Aude Department
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