Pailhès, Ariège
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Commune of Pailhès |
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| Location | |
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Midi-Pyrénées |
| Department | Ariège |
| Arrondissement | Pamiers |
| Canton | Fossat |
| Intercommunality | Communauté de communes de la vallée de la Lèze |
| Mayor | Yvon Lassalle (2001-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 267 m–532 m (avg. 287 m) |
| Land area¹ | 21,52 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
297 |
| - Density | 13/km² |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 09224/ 09130 |
| 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. | |
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Pailhès is a village and commune in the Ariège département of south-western France.
It is one of the villages that provide a bridge over the river Leze. As such it was of military significance in medieval times and resulted in the Chateau of Pailhes being built on the hill overlooking the river. The chateau was built in the 12 century by the Comte de Foix and reached a high point when King Henri II of France stayed the night there. Many of the present day villagers now claim royal descent as a result of this visit.
The ancient village can still be seen at the foot of the Chateau while the more modern buildings are across the river.
The chateau has recently been purchased by the local historical society who are in the process of renovating it.
In more recent times Pailhes was at one end of the monorail which ran from Toulouse along the valley of the Leze. Unfortunately this unique railway line was torn up in the inter war years, though the stations can still be seen in each of the villages of the Leze.
[edit] See also
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