Montauriol, Pyrénées-Orientales

Montauriol (in Catalan Montoriol ) is a commune with 213 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Pyrénées- Orientales of the Languedoc -Roussillon region. It belongs to the district Ceret and the canton of Ceret.

Geography

The village Montauriol itself is not a homogeneous entity, but rather a collection of farmhouses ( mas ) at the eastern edge of the Pyrenees, still influenced by the Catalan culture. The municipality has an area of ​​1,110 acres and currently has about 200 inhabitants. Montauriol between the Spanish border and about 20 km west of Perpignan, seat of the prefecture and is one of the 14 municipalities of the canton of Ceret. The development Montauriols now extends 149-463 meters above the sea.

Neighboring communities of Montauriol are: Castelnou and Terrats in the north, and Fourques Tordères in the east, Llauro and Oms in the south, southwest, and Calmeilles in Caxias in the West.

History

Montauriol is very common as a place name in Catalonia and Languedoc, but its origin comes from Latin and means profane "Golden Mountain" (from the Latin mons aureolus ).

The history of the village began with the conquest of the region by the Carolingian dynasty around 800 AD. In the 9th and 10th centuries in this space created influential abbeys, including Saint -André, the Abbey of Sainte -Marie ( Arles- sur- Tech) and the Abbey of Saint -Michel -de- Cuxa that in almost every, if sparsely inhabited valleys daughter churches founded. Just like here in Montauriol the church Saint -Saturnin.

In the territory of the present municipality previously passed two small hamlet. Montauriol d' amont lay on the ridge above the gorge of Hostalets (after the nearby Mas Les Hostalets ) and is now gone. Previously here is a Château have been built, of which a few cairns and a square tower testify. Also, there is here a remarkable little chapel from the 12th century, called Sant Amance de la Ribera, which was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. At times, the Abbey of Saint -Michel -de- Cuxa had property rights here.

The former Mantauriol d' Ava II is still in the valley of the canyon of Hostalets and is crossed by the river of the same Montauriol. It now forms the core area of the village. An upgraded highway that leads from Calxas in the northwest to Fourques in the Southwest, today runs through the village.

Viticulture and economy

The formerly very wooded stock of holm oaks, cork oaks and chestnut is increasingly threatened by deforestation in favor of the EC subsidized viticulture. Thanks to new mixing techniques and marketing strategies to win the regional red and rosé more and more customers. The area around Ceret is still known in France for its cherry growing, but is hard pressed by the emergence of peach cultivation.

Attractions

The church of Saint- Saturnin with

• Iron -shod front door of the 12th century, the oldest door of Roussillon, famous photo opportunity;
• Bell tower in the form of a triumphal arch dating from the 15th century;
• Altarpiece in the interior: the main part represents the crucifixion of Jesus, the left parts of the proclamation and worship of Jesus and the right part the Martyriumsdarstellung of Saint Saturnin, the first bishop of Toulouse ( † 250 AD in Toulouse). The altarpiece was stolen in 1965 from the church.
• Body-sized statue of " la vendangeuse ( the Vintage Machine) " in front of St. Mary of the village by the German sculptor Peter Weiss ( 1924-1981 ), the 6 km -level village Terrats retired to die.