Lavelanet

Commune française|nomcommune=Lavelanet

intercomm=Pays_d

Lavelanet ("L'Avelhanetis" in the Languedocian dialect of Occitan) is a French and Occitan "commune" of the "département" of Ariège in the "région" Midi-Pyrénées of France. Its inhabitants are called the "Lavelanetien(s)" and "Lavelanetienne(s)" (feminine). In the last census (1999), its population was found to be of 6872.

In 2002 the 13th stage of the Tour de France started in Lavelanet. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2002/07/22/t16_1.php TOUR DE FRANCE : 'The others are better this year,' Lance says - International Herald Tribune ] ]

In 2008 the 12th stage of the Tour de France started in Lavelanet.

Etymology

The name of Lavelanet comes from the Latin "avellana" meaning "hazel nut" ("noisette" in French).

Famous people born in Lavelanet

* Fabien Barthez, footballer and more precisely goalkeeper
* Benoît Baby, rugbyman

References