Mirepoix, Ariège

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Coordinates: 43°05′23″N 1°52′28″E / 43.0897222222, 1.87444444444

Commune of Mirepoix

Maison des Consuls in the centre of Mirepoix

Location
Mirepoix, Ariège (France)
Mirepoix, Ariège
Administration
Country France
Region Midi-Pyrénées
Department Ariège
Arrondissement Pamiers
Canton Mirepoix (chief town)
Intercommunality Communauté de communes du Pays de Mirepoix
Mayor Jean Cazanave
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 276 m–462 m
(avg. 308 m)
Land area¹ 47.28 km²
Population²
(1999)
3,061
 - Density 64/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 09194/ 09500
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France
Wooden carving from one of the overhanging arcades in the place de Couverts.
Wooden carving from one of the overhanging arcades in the place de Couverts.

Mirepoix is an historic town in the Hers valley of the Ariège département, in the south of France, between Carcassonne and Pamiers. The inhabitants are called Mirapiciens.

[edit] History

The original town was virtually destroyed by flooding of the Hers-Vif river on June 16, 1289. It was subsequently rebuilt by Jean de Levis in 1290.

[edit] Sights

Cathédrale Saint-Maurice de Mirepoix
Cathédrale Saint-Maurice de Mirepoix

The centre of Mirepoix is built around the place de Couverts which in turn has the 14th century Maison des Consuls as its main attraction.The overhanging arcades have exposed beams and from these there are approximately 150 individually carved wooden heads.

The cathedral of St-Maurice, built in the Gothic style, has a particularly wide nave.

[edit] See also

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