Mirepoix, Ariège

Mirepoix
Mirepoix
Administration
Country	France
Region	Midi-Pyrénées
Department	Ariège
Arrondissement	Pamiers
Canton	Mirepoix
Intercommunality	Pays de Mirepoix
Mayor	Nicole Quillien (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	276–462 m (906–1,516 ft) (avg. 308 m/1,010 ft)
Land area1	47.28 km2 (18.25 sq mi)
Population2	3,123  (2008)
- Density	66 /km2 (170 /sq mi)
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 without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

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

Wooden arcades of the Maison des Consuls.

Mirepoix (Occitan: Mirapeis, supposedly from mire peis, meaning see the fish) is a communes in the Ariège department in southwestern France.

Geography

It lies in the Hers valley between Carcassonne and Pamiers.

History

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

Population

The inhabitants are called Mirapiciens.

Historical population of Mirepoix, Ariège

1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2008
3078	3255	3273	3139	2993	3061	3123

Sights

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.

See also

• Communes of the Ariège department

References

• INSEE