Ax-les-Thermes
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Ax-les-Thermes (Script error: No such module "IPA".; Template:Langx or Script error: No such module "Lang".) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of southwestern France.
The commune has been awarded one flower by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.[2]
Geography
Ax-les-Thermes is situated in the Pyrénées, close to Andorra, and stands on the confluence of the Oriège, Ariège and Lauze rivers.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". some 75 km west of Perpignan and 35 km north-east of Andorra la Vella. Access to the commune is by Route nationale N20 from Garanou in the northwest which passes through the village then south through the commune to Mérens-les-Vals. The D613 goes north from the village to Sorgeat and the D25 branches from this to go east to Ascou and Mijanès. The railway line from Foix passes through the commune with Ax-les-Thermes station just northwest of the village. The line continues south to Merens-les-Vals.
Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Premiere Bazerque, Deuxieme Bazerque, Troisieme Bazerque, Petches, and Ax-Bonascre to the south. The Ax 3 Domaines Ski resort is located at Ax-Bonascre southwest of the village and is accessed by the D82 road from the village. The commune is alpine in nature with extensive forests and rugged terrain.[3]
The Ariège river flows through the commune from south to north at the start of its journey to join the Garonne at Portet-sur-Garonne. The Ruisseau des Estagnols rises in the south of the commune and flows north to join the Ariège in the south of the commune. The Ruisseau de Risl and the Ruisseau de Font Frède both rise in the east of the commune and flow west to join the Ariège. The Oriège flows from the east to join the Ariège in the village and the Lauze flows from the east to join the Ariège just north of the confluence of the Oriège.
The Spa
Ax (from Latin Aquae – water; French Thermes – hot springs), situated at an elevation of Script error: No such module "convert"., is well known for its sulphurous hot springs (Script error: No such module "convert".). The waters, which were used by the Romans, were historically claimed to treat rheumatism, skin diseases, and other maladies.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The springs were developed in the medieval period on the orders of Saint Louis to treat soldiers returning from the Crusades afflicted with leprosy. From the 19th century, a spa tourism industry developed.
The Bassin des Ladres (Lepers' Pond), in the centre of the commune, is fed by hot springs supplying water from the ground at a temperature of 77 °C. The best known fountain is the "fountain of cannons". A hospital is situated only one metre from the basin. The pond was built by Roger IV, Count of Foix, during the reign of Saint Louis in 1260. Every year on St John's Day the people of Ax-les-Thermes, having been daubed with ashes, bathe in the Lepers' Pond for fun.
History
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Heraldry
| These were the arms of Roger IV, Count of Foix, who built a leprosy hospital and the bassin des Ladres in 1260.[4]
Blazon:
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Administration
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". List of Successive Mayors[5]
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 1813 | Jean François Gaspard de Fornier de Clauselles |
| 1977 | 1989 | Alain Aybram |
| 1989 | 1995 | Gérard Balista |
| 1995 | 2001 | Augustin Bonrepaux |
| 2001 | 2008 | Alain Chenebeau |
| 2008 | 2014 | Pierre Peyronne |
| 2014 | 2026 | Dominique Fourcade |
Demography
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Axéens or Axéennes in French.[6]
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Economy
Local economic activity is based mainly on livestock (cattle and sheep), Hydrotherapy (there are 60 sources at temperatures ranging from 18 to 78 °C, feeding three spas: Couloubret, Modèle, and Teich. The waters treat especially sciatica, rheumatism and certain respiratory diseases), winter sports, and tourism in general. Its proximity to Andorra enables cross-border shopping. The Ax 3 Domaines winter sports resort is situated in the commune and served as the finish line for stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage
The commune has two sites that are registered as historical monuments:
- The Bassin des Ladres (Lepers' Pond) (13th century)Template:Mérimée Icon[7] is fed by hot spring water at a temperature of 77 °C.
- The Teich Park Ornamental Garden (1838)Template:Mérimée Icon[8]
- Picture Gallery
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The Demoiselles de Castelet in the 19th century
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Railway tunnel at Ax-les-Thermes 1906
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The Baths of Teich 1905
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The Berduquety Gorge (19th century)
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A street in the town
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The Village Centre
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The Quarry
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The Lauze in Ax-les-Thermes
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A train at Ax-les-Thermes in 1981
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Religious heritage
- The Church of Saint-Jerome (formerly the Chapel of the Blue Penitents) contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
- An Altar Painting: Christ on the Cross (1841)Template:Palissy Icon[9]
- The Choir Enclosure (18th century)Template:Palissy Icon[10]
- The Front of the Altar (18th century)Template:Palissy Icon[11]
- A Tabernacle and 6 statuettes (18th century)Template:Palissy Icon[12]
- The Altar, Retable, 2 statues, Painting: Saint Jerome, Saint Madeleine, Christ on the Cross (18th century)Template:Palissy Icon[13]
- The Church of Saint-Vincent contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
- A Chalice (16th century)Template:Palissy Icon[14]
- A Crucifix from the Blue Penitents (1650)Template:Palissy Icon[15]
- A Chalice (16th century)Template:Palissy Icon[16]
- A Painting: Saint Vincent in Ecstasy (18th century)Template:Palissy Icon[17]
- A Bronze Bell (1512)Template:Palissy Icon[18]
- A Painting: The mystical marriage of Saint Catherine (17th century)Template:Palissy Icon[19]
- A Painting: Christ on the Cross with Saint Madeleine and the Virgin at his feet (1875)Template:Palissy Icon[20]
Notable people linked to the commune
- Saint Udaut (405-452), priest and martyr
- Peire Autier, Albigensian leader
- Louis Gareau (1769-1813), General of the Armies of the Republic and the Empire
- Émilien Dumas (1804–1873), palaeontologist and geologist, died in Ax-les-Thermes
- Gatien Marcailhou (1807-1855), composer and "inventor" of the waltz. He was the first teacher of Gabriel Fauré. His most famous composition, Indiana, inspired Camille Claudel in his group La Valse.
- Pierre Bertrand de Mérignon[21]
See also
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Ax-les-Thermes in the Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom Script error: No such module "webarchive". Template:In lang
- ↑ Google Maps
- ↑ Arms of France Template:In lang
- ↑ List of Mayors of France Template:In lang
- ↑ Le nom des habitants du 09 - Ariège, habitants.fr
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Template:Mérimée Template:In lang
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Template:Mérimée Template:In lang
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In lang
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In langTemplate:Camera
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In lang
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In lang
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In langTemplate:Camera
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In lang
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In langTemplate:Camera
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In langTemplate:Camera
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In langTemplate:Camera
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In langTemplate:Camera
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In langTemplate:Camera
- ↑ Ministry of Culture, Palissy Template:Palissy Template:In lang
- ↑ Pierre Brun, A Hellenist of the 17th century: Pierre Bertrand de Mérignon from Ax-les-Thermes, Annales du Midi, 1894, p. 327-348 Template:In lang
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External links
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- Ax-les-Thermes official website Template:In lang
- Vallées d'Ax Tourism website Template:In lang
- Tourist Information website for Ax les Thermes Template:In lang
- Ax 3 Domaines ski resort official website Template:In lang
- Ax-les-Thermes Green Station website Template:In lang
- Ax-les-Thermes school website Template:In lang
- Ax on the 1750 Cassini Map
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
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