Pamiers

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Coordinates: 43°07′03″N 1°36′42″E / 43.1175, 1.611666667

Commune of Pamiers

Location
Pamiers (France)
Pamiers
Administration
Country France
Region Midi-Pyrénées
Department Ariège
Arrondissement Pamiers
Canton Pamiers Est and Pamiers Ouest
Intercommunality Pays de Pamiers
Mayor André Trigano
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 256 m–473 m
(avg. 298 m)
Land area¹ 45.85 km²
Population²
(1999)		 13,417
 - Density 292/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 09225/ 09100
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

Pamiers is a commune in the Ariège département in southwestern France. It is a sous-préfecture of Ariège. Although Pamiers is the biggest city in Ariège, and the seat of the Bishop of Pamiers is at Pamiers Cathedral, the préfecture (capital) resides in the smaller town of Foix.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Pamiers is located on the Ariège River.

The local town of Pamiers is famous for its three bell towers and also is the birthplace of Gabriel Fauré, the classical French musician and composer. It also boasts awards for the equivalent of "towns in bloom" - 'Ville Fleurie'. Local facilities include good restaurants, bars, supermarkets, large public indoor and outdoor swimming pools (one of which is 50m).

Pamiers lies in an ancient alluvial plain of the Ariege River in the area called La Basse Ariege, noted for its rich fertile soil ideal for agriculture. Pamiers has 17,000 inhabitants and is the most important town in the department as it is the economical capital of the Ariege.

The town itself dates back to the 5th century and its name was derived from the fact that the land around the Ariege River at this point was divided into six sectors based on a measurement called "Pams" (from the Latin "pannium" meaning pieces). Originally it was called "Ville de Pams" - you often hear the word "Appamee" relating to Pamiers. In the 18th century a plural stance on the word was introduced making the name "Apamias" derived from ecclesiastical language and also similar to the Occitan language. The name "Pamias" still exists today on the town sign, alongside the French name Pamiers as one enters the town via the old route from Toulouse, RN20.

The main square of Pamiers, Place de la Republique, is paved in red marble. Every week, three large open-air farmers' markets are held, plus a flea market every Sunday morning. Nearby is the old Tour of the Cordeliars and the large Church of Notre-Dame-Du-Camp.

[edit] Miscellaneous

Pamiers was the birthplace or hometown of:

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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