L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
L' Hospitalet- près- l'Andorre is a commune with 92 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) in the department of Ariège in the Midi-Pyrénées region. It belongs to the district of Foix, in the canton of Ax- les -Thermes and community association Vallées d' Ax.
Geography
The municipality of L' Hospitalet- près- l'Andorre located in the Pyrenees, 17 kilometers south of the spa town of Ax- les -Thermes. L' Hospitalet is the southernmost and 1440 m above sea level, the highest town in the department of Ariège and the region Midi -Pyrénées.
The municipality extends on both sides of the River Ariège in the Pyrenees. It is bordered on the south by the department of Pyrenees- Orientales and in the south west to the tiny country of Andorra.
To the west and east of the Ariègetales, the territory of the municipality a distinct high mountain character with several peaks over 2,000 meters. These include:
West of the Ariègetales
- Roc de Carroux 2150 m
- Pic de Nérassol 2633 m
- Pic de Regalecio 2569 m
East of Ariègetales
- Tos Bessa part of 2362 m
On the northern boundary of the municipality
- Pic de l' Albe 2764 m
- Pic d' Escobés 2779 m
- Tose de Pedourres 2468 m
On the southern boundary of the municipality
- Pic de Querforc 2583 m
- Pic de la Cabanetta 2818 m
- Roc Mele 2811 m
- Cap de la Cometa del Forn 2697 m
Between the peak positions determine rock formations, wells with small lakes ( Etang du Siscar, Etang de Pedourres ), alpine meadows and boulder fields of the countryside. The lakes flow over mountain streams ( Ruisseau du Siscar, Ruisseau de Val d' Arques, Ruisseau des Bésines ) partially cascade to Ariège.
The proportion of forest in the municipality amounts to only about 10%. The municipally owned Domaniale Forêt de l' Hospitalet is located in the valley of the Ariege and on its slopes; large parts of the community brain area are above the tree line. The mountainous areas of the community are not accessible by roads, there are only paths and trails - including leading the GR 10 through the mountains.
L' Hospitalet- près- l'Andorre bordered to the north and east Mérens -les- Vals, to the south by Porté -Puymorens in the Languedoc- Roussillon region and in the west of Canillo in Andorra.
History
The official name since 1928 L' Hospitalet- près- l'Andorre (1793 only L' Hospitalet, L' Hospitales 1801 ) translates freely ( The ) Hospital near Andorra. Hospital stands for shelter or refuge or hospice. In place travelers found protection from storms and cold, which could not cross on the way to the south the snow-covered passes of the Pyrenees. According to an old tradition, a knight named Enveight vowed in 1003 to have built a hospice before the storm because of impassable 1920 m high Col de Puymorens. Then began the construction of the Oratory Sainte -Suzanne. The chapel near the bridge over the Ariège is obtained in the basic form today. The Holy Susanne was henceforth patron saint of the parish, at the Holiday, 11 August, each year the village is celebrated.
Pilgrims and travelers were cared for in the Middle Ages by the Order of St. John.
In 1791, the municipality of L' Hospitalet- près- l'Andorre was formed after the place long a part of Mérens -les -Vals formed. In the 17th century, the church of Sainte -Suzanne was built and created a separate cemetery. 164 -kg church bell also dates from the 17th century.
1793 was the area around L' Hospitalet scene of fighting between National Guardsmen and Spanish troops, also in the subsequent period, during the Napoleonic Wars ( 1811-1812 ) was not the area to rest.
L' Hospitalet was until the construction of the railway line end of the road from Toulouse by the Ariègetal. Here 's horses, carriages were changed for the arduous climb to the Col de Puymorens. On 1 October 1898, the stagecoach connection was opened to Spain. On January 4, 1895 and on 16 and December 25, 1906, many lives were lost in heavy avalanches. On 20 October 1908, a small hydroelectric power plant and the customs station at the border with Andorra was put into operation. In 1896 there were 28 houses in L' Hospitalet, with 34 households and 139 inhabitants.
Development of communications
1933, the road was paved over the Pas de la Casa, the Col d' Envalira and winter sports location Soldeu Andorra la Vella ( since 1973 on the French territory called N 22 ).
The often long winter locks on the Col de Puymorens towards Tet Valley or Puigcerdà in Spain ( European Route 9 Orléans -Barcelona ) made the construction of a tunnel required. The 4820 m long toll Puymorens road tunnel ( Tunnel du Puymorens ) was opened in 1994. This an all-season crossing of the Pyrenees, the main ridge was possible.
The construction of the railway line through the Pyrenees ( Oriental Transpyrenees ) lasted almost 80 years. The section Toulouse- Foix was completed on 7 April 1862. South of Foix - Ariège up following - the terrain became increasingly difficult, so many artificial structures were required. In addition to some viaducts especially the tunnel extended the construction period. After the state took over the project, it took another 15 years to the small town of Tarascon- sur -Ariege was achieved (opening on August 20, 1877). On April 22, 1888 finally gets the spa town of Ax- les -Thermes its rail connection. The works were then for ten years to a halt. In 1904, France and Spain signed a transport agreement, which had among other things, the extension and electrification of the railway line until the provisional terminus Puigcerdà to content. The last two obstacles to final completion in 1929 formed the 5000 m long tunnel under the Col de Puymorens and 1800 m long spiral tunnel Saillens northeast of L' Hospitalet, the 66 meter height überwindet.Auch the 1226 m long tunnel de Barthe- Espresso immediately north of the railway station of L' Hospitalet serves with its wide turning radius of the artificial route extension and thus the aim of reducing the slope.
Demographics
Economy
The tourism and the transport industry are the major employers in the community. Agriculture ( livestock, dairies ) plays only a minor role.