Hautes-Pyrénées

Hautes-Pyrénées (French pronunciation: ​[ot pi.ʁe.ne]) (Gascon/Occitan: Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus ['awts piɾeˈnɛʊs]; Spanish: Altos Pirineos; Catalan: Alts Pirineus ['alts piɾiˈneʊs]; English: Upper Pyrenees) is a department in the Occitanie region in Southwestern France. In 2016, its population was 227,829; its prefecture is Tarbes. It is named after the Pyrenees mountain range.

Hautes-Pyrénées

Hauts Pirenèus  (Occitan)
Department of France
Prefecture building in Tarbes
Flag
Coat of arms
Location of Hautes-Pyrénées in France
Coordinates: 43°12′N 0°8′E
CountryFrance
RegionOccitanie
PrefectureTarbes
SubprefecturesArgelès-Gazost
Bagnères-de-Bigorre
Government
 • President of the Departmental CouncilMichel Pélieu (PRG)
Area
 • Total4,464 km2 (1,724 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total227,829
 • Rank84th
 • Density51/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Department number65
Arrondissements3
Cantons17
Communes469
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries and lakes, ponds and glaciers larger than 1 km2

History

Historically the area broadly covered by the département was known as Bigorre, a territory at times independent but later part of Gascony province. Large parts of the area were held by the English after the Treaty of Brétigny, 1360. In the 16th century, it was part of the Huguenot domain of the monarchs of Navarre, brought to France by Henri IV. For its early history, see Bigorre and Gascony.

The département of Hautes-Pyrénées was created at the time of the French Revolution, on 4 March 1790, through the influence of Tarbes politician Bertrand Barère, a member of the Convention.

Demographics

Population development since 1801:

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1801174,721—    
1806198,763+2.61%
1821212,077+0.43%
1831233,031+0.95%
1841244,196+0.47%
1851251,285+0.29%
1861240,179−0.45%
1872235,156−0.19%
1881236,472+0.06%
1891225,861−0.46%
1901215,546−0.47%
1911206,105−0.45%
1921185,760−1.03%
1931189,993+0.23%
1936188,604−0.15%
1946201,954+0.69%
1954203,544+0.10%
1962211,433+0.48%
1968225,730+1.10%
1975227,222+0.09%
1982227,922+0.04%
1990224,759−0.17%
1999222,368−0.12%
2006227,736+0.34%
2011229,228+0.13%
2016227,829−0.12%
source:[1]

Geography
Map of the Hautes-Pyrénées

Hautes-Pyrénées consists of several distinct geographical areas. The southern portion, along the border with Spain, consists of mountains such as the Vignemale, the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, and the Neouvielle and Arbizon ranges. A second area consists of low-altitude rolling hills. The Northern part of the département consists of largely flat agricultural land. Hautes-Pyrénées has two small territorial exclaves—a remnant from the Middle Ages—located within the neighboring département of Pyrenees-Atlantiques.

The greater Tarbes area is the economic and administrative focus of the département, while Lourdes, the second-biggest city in Hautes-Pyrénées, is dedicated almost exclusively to the religious pilgrimage industry.

Other towns of note are Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Argelès-Gazost, Vic-en-Bigorre, Rabastens-de-Bigorre, Maubourguet, and Lannemezan.

Politics

Current National Assembly Representatives
ConstituencyMember[2]Party
Hautes-Pyrénées's 1st constituency Jean-Bernard Sempastous La République En Marche!
Hautes-Pyrénées's 2nd constituency Jeanine Dubié Radical Party of the Left

Tourism

The Western Pyrenees National Park covers a significant area, and includes well-known attractions such as the Cirque de Gavarnie and the Pont d'Espagne. The entire area is a favorite destination of hikers and mountain enthusiasts.

The area has been known perhaps since Antiquity for its hot springs, and several towns were built around these, most notably Cauterets, Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Bagnères-de-Bigorre.

A notable lake in the area is Lac Bleu d'Ilhéou, southwest of Cauterets

There are a number of popular ski resorts in Hautes-Pyrénées such as Barèges-La Mongie, Gavarnie, Luz-Ardiden, Cauterets, Hautacam, Piau-Engaly and Saint-Lary-Soulan.

The area is a nearly-permanent fixture on the Tour de France's itinerary, with significantly difficult passes such as the Tourmalet, the Aubisque and the Soulor.

The region's premier avant-garde jazz festival is held each year in Luz-Saint-Sauveur: Jazz a Luz. Tarbes hosts an annual horse festival, Equestria, and a Tango festival, Tarbes en Tango.

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See also

References
  1. Site sur la Population et les Limites Administratives de la France
  2. http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/
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