Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. It is situated in the Tech valley, and combines the old and the new with a mix of narrow cobbled streets and modern accommodation. It has become a 'station verte' meaning that it must strive at all times to ensure that tourists benefit from a calm and natural environment.

Geography

Location

Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda is located in the canton of Le Canigou and in the arrondissement of Céret. It sits at the confluence of the Mondony with the Tech, SSW of Perpignan by road. The town is situated at a height of and has both a winter and summer season. Map commune FR insee code 66003

Climate

In the winter season the average temperature is about 10 degrees Celsius, and in the summer it is roughly 29 degrees Celsius with the occasional thunderstorm late afternoon.

Springs

The town has numerous sulphur springs (20-60C.). They have been used as baths by those with rheumatism and illnesses of the lungs. By the end of the 19th century there were two bathing establishments, one of which preserved remains of Roman baths, and a large military thermal hospital.

Toponymy

The town, formerly called ''Les-Bains-d'Arles'', became ''Fort-les-Bains'' in 1670 after the construction of the new castle. It was renamed ''Amélie-les-Bains'' in 1840 after Queen Amelia wife of Louis Philippe. She finally visited the town in 1848, and subsequently promoted it. In Catalan it is still called ''Els banys d'Arles''.

History

In 1942, the former communes of Amélie-les-Bains and Palalda were merged to form the new commune Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda.

Government and politics

François Mefler, mayor of Amélie-les-Bains since October 1941, became the new mayor of Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda in October 1942, after Amélie-les-Bains and Palalda were united together.MairesGenWeb
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Population

Sites of interest

* Fort-les-Bains,

fortress A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from L ...

built in 1670 above Amélie-les-Bains.

Notable people

* Maximilien Chaudoir (1816–1881), Russian entomologist, died in Amélie-les-Bains; * Pierre Restany (1930–2003), art critic and philosopher, born in Amélie-les-Bains. * Jean Trescases, a French military officer was born in Palalda

References

External links

Tourist office website
* Communes of Pyrénées-Orientales Spa towns in France {{PyrénéesOrientales-geo-stub