Mont-Louis (French pronunciation: [mɔ̃ lwi] ; Catalan: Montlluís or el Vilar d'Ovansa) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.[3]

Mont-Louis
An aerial view of Mont-Louis
An aerial view of Mont-Louis
Coat of arms of Mont-Louis
Location of Mont-Louis
Map
Mont-Louis is located in France
Mont-Louis
Mont-Louis
Mont-Louis is located in Occitanie
Mont-Louis
Mont-Louis
Coordinates: 42°30′33″N 2°07′15″E / 42.5092°N 2.1208°E / 42.5092; 2.1208
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentPyrénées-Orientales
ArrondissementPrades
CantonLes Pyrénées catalanes
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Joëlle Cordelette[1]
Area
1
0.39 km2 (0.15 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
147
 • Density380/km2 (980/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
66117 /66210
Elevation1,516–1,608 m (4,974–5,276 ft)
(avg. 1,600 m or 5,200 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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Mont-Louis is located in the canton of Les Pyrénées catalanes and in the arrondissement of Prades. Mont-Louis-La Cabanasse station has rail connections to Villefranche-de-Conflent and Latour-de-Carol.

 
Map of Mont-Louis and its surrounding communes

Government and politics

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Mayors

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Plan de Mont-Louis 1798
Mayor Term start Term end
Michel Aldebert[4] c. 1815 ?
Christian Pécout 2001 2002
Jean-Michel Larmet 2002 2010
Pierrette Cordelette 2010

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 391—    
1975 250−6.19%
1982 239−0.64%
1990 200−2.20%
1999 270+3.39%
2007 284+0.63%
2012 185−8.22%
2017 152−3.85%
Source: INSEE[5]

Sites of interest

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Solar furnace of Mont-Louis

In 2008, the citadel and the city walls of Mont-Louis were listed as part of the Fortifications of Vauban UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its outstanding engineering and testimony to the development of military architecture in the 17th through 19th centuries.[6]

The Mont-Louis Solar Furnace, is the world's first solar furnace, built in 1949, by engineer Félix Trombe. It is open to visit for practical education on solar energy uses and technologies.

The citadel has been hosting for more than half a century the National Commando Training Center (French Army) which trains elite French troops and some foreign ones[example needed] in the usage of commando techniques and for enduring heavy physical and mental stress in combat situations. Nevertheless, some places of the citadel, like the "Puits de Forçats",[7] can also be visited, being accompanied by a local guide.

Notable people

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Signature of mayor Michel Aldebert in 1815

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. ^ INSEE commune file
  4. ^ (in French) Fabricio Cardenas, Vieux papiers des Pyrénées-Orientales, Mont-Louis, le 15 juin 1815, 16 january 2014
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  6. ^ "Fortifications of Vauban". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  7. ^ See § Lieux et monuments [fr] in the French page.
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