Caramany

Caramany ( Occitan: Caramanh = ' Big Stone ') is a southern French village with 146 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011 ) in the department of Pyrénées- Orientales in the Languedoc- Roussillon region.

Location

Caramany situated on a hill near the geographical center of the Fenouillèdes, about 35 km ( driving distance ) to the west of Perpignan. Latour- de -France, the capital of the arrondissement, is located about 13 kilometers north-east.

Demographics

In the first census in 1793 had 433 inhabitants Caramany; In the 19th century the number had risen to over 500. After the Second World War, there were still about 400 inhabitants.

Economy

Main occupation of the inhabitants of Caramany is the Agriculture, Forestry and especially the wine on the sun drenched south-facing slopes.

Viniculture

Together with the villages Lesquerde, Latour- de -France and Tautavel Caramany plays a special role within the large wine-growing region of the Côtes du Roussillon -Villages, because their wines are considered particularly high quality and are proud to be marketed under the relevant place name. Crops grown grape varieties Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, primarily serving red wines are produced. The construction of the reservoir in the years 1988 to 1994 - allegedly - contributed to climatic stabilization and thus to improve wine quality.

Tourism

Although the place can not be called a tourist resort in the traditional sense, the wine tourism and rental cottages ( gîtes ) play an important role in the economy of the small community.

History

Including a necropolis - - During the construction of a reservoir, which dams up the river Agly at the feet of the place, many finds from the Neolithic period were made, which already points to an intensive settlement of the area around 2000 BC.

By the year 870 the Fenouillèdes still belonged to the historic county of Razès, after which it came into the possession of the Counts of Cerdanya. In 1085 Caramany is first mentioned; in 1242 is Hugues de Caraman one of the major landowners ( seigneurs ) in the area. By the Treaty of Corbeil ( 1258 ) which was the Fenouillèdes - controlled by the French crown - Languedoc slammed. The Castle of Caramany was in this way - until the signing of the Pyrenean Peace ( 1659) - a kind of border guards to the Kingdom of Aragon.

Together with the other five Comarcas northern Catalonia - - In the wake of the French Revolution, the Fenouillèdes was the newly created department of Pyrénées Orientales slammed.

Attractions

• The site, with its narrow, steep and winding streets seems partly still to medieval.
• Long lost - - At the Porte rebellious apparatus for lowering a portcullis is still recognizable.
• The Maison Chauvet 17th century is the largest of the city; it belonged to a wealthy cloth merchant family.
• The Église Saint- Étienne dates from the 15th or 16th century, but has been thoroughly revised in the 19th century. The bell tower with its peculiar peak which is strongly reminiscent of a four-sided bell tower, was only added in the mid-19th century by the inhabitants of the place on their own. The single interior surprises with its partially baroque features ( altar, sculptures, paintings, etc.).
• The dam ( barrage ) was completed in the years 1988 to 1994.