Mont-Louis

Mont- Louis ( in Catalan: Montlluís or earlier el Vilar d' Ovansa ), is a southern French village with 216 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Pyrénées- Orientales of the Languedoc -Roussillon region. Since July 7, 2008 include the citadel and city walls that are part of the fortifications of Vauban, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Location

Mont- Louis is located on an average altitude of 1600 meters above sea level ( 1516-1608 m) in the same canton Mont -Louis, which in turn belongs to the district of Prades. The municipality is situated on the right bank of the Tet, 11 km north of the Spanish border. The municipality is part of the Pyrénées Catalanes Regional Natural Park; here is also the park administration.

History

The town was founded in the 12th century. The fort was built from 1681 to 1691 after plans by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban to the nearby, strategically important transport routes, including to Bourg - Madame and Font-Romeu- Odeillo- Via to secure. The Citadel has been used since 1964 by the Centre National d' Entraînement Commando ( CNEC ) of the French armed forces.

The church of Mont -Louis was built in 1733-1737.

In 1948, the French engineer Félix Trombe in Mont -Louis with attempts to build a solar furnace. His 1949 finished first prototype had an output of 50 kW and is still located inside the fort.

In 1723 the theater historian and writer Antoine de Leris was born in Mont- Louis.

The entrance to the site through the fortress

The 50 kW prototype of a solar furnace by Félix Trombe