Le Perthus

French commune
nomcommune=Le Perthus
région=Languedoc-Roussillon
département=Pyrénées-Orientales
arrondissement=Céret
canton=Céret
insee=66137
cp=66480
maire=Michèle Vert-Nibet
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=
longitude=2.86333333333
latitude=42.465
alt moy=280 m
alt mini=196 m
alt maxi=647 m
hectares=427
km²=4,27
sans=620
date-sans=1999
dens=145
date-dens=1999

Le Perthus ( _ca. el Pertús) is a commune of the Pyrénées-Orientales "département" in southwestern France.The west and south of the town are in Catalonia, Spain (commune of la Junquera, province of Girona).

Inhabitants are Perthusiens.

Economy

Le Perthus is a border town, partly in Spain and partly in France, situated on the Route Nationale RN9. The frontier passes through part of the main street. The Spanish part is almost entirely devoted to the sale of alcohol, tobacco and other goods which are considerably cheaper than in France, resulting in the town being crowded with bargain hunters from France. In earlier times it was a convenient centre of contraband.

Monuments

Fort de Bellegarde is located on a hilltop above Le Perthus.

External links

* [http://www.fortified-places.com/bellegarde.html Webpage about Fort de Bellegarde in Le Perthus]