Banyuls-sur-Mer

French commune
nomcommune=Banyuls-sur-Mer
région=Languedoc-Roussillon
département=Pyrénées-Orientales
arrondissement=Céret
canton=Côte Vermeille
insee=66016
cp=66650
maire=Roger Rulls
mandat=2001-2008|intercomm=|longitude=3.12805555556 |latitude=42.4830555556
alt moy=6 m|alt mini=0 m|alt maxi=965 m|hectares=4,234|km²=42.34
sans=4,532|date-sans=1999
dens=106
date-dens=1999|

Banyuls-sur-Mer ( _ca. Banyuls de la Marenda) is a French municipality in the "département" of Pyrénées-Orientales in the "région" of Languedoc-Roussillon.

Geography

Banyuls-sur-Mer is neighbored by Cerbère, Port-Vendres, Argelès-sur-Mer and Collioure. The region is known for its wines, such as the sweet wine Banyuls. An aquatic museum with aquarium is located in the town. The foothills of Pyrenees, the "Monts Albères", run into the Mediterranean Sea in Banyuls-sur-Mer, creating a steep cliff line.

Name

Banyuls-sur-Mer was first mentioned in 981 as "Balneum" or "Balneola". In 1074, the town starts being called "Bannils de Maritimo" in order to distinguish it from Banyuls-dels-Aspres, which lies 20 km away. In 1197, the town is mentioned as "Banullis de Maredine" and in 1674. In Catalan, it has been called "Banyuls de la Marenda", since the 19th century.

The name Banyuls indicates the presence of a pond. In fact, a pond did exist in Banyuls-sur-Mer until the creek "Vallauria" was drained in 1872. The term "Marenda" in Catalan or "sur Mer" in French merely indicates the proximity to the coast.

History

For nearly two centuries, the smuggling of goods to and from Spain was a major activity in Banyuls-sur-Mer. Depending on the needs of the time, salt, tobacco, silver, sugar, rice, textiles, and leather were smuggled through this city, almost always with impunity. Otherwise the inhabitants lived mainly from fishing and viticulture. Nowadays, tourism stemming from the wine industry plays a significant economic role in the town notably for delicious and rare red dessert wines

Miscellaneous

*Aristide Maillol, French sculptor and painter, comes from Banyuls-sur-Mer
*Banyuls-sur-Mer is the eastern end of the GR 10 long distance footpath

External links

* [http://www.banyuls-sur-mer.com/ Official website]

*de