- Pamiers
French commune
nomcommune=Pamiers
région=Midi-Pyrénées
département=Ariège
arrondissement=Pamiers
canton=Pamiers Est and Pamiers Ouest
insee=09225
cp=09100
maire=André Trigano
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Pays de Pamiers
longitude=1.611666667
latitude=43.1175
alt moy=298 m
alt mini=256 m
alt maxi=473 m
hectares=4,585
km²=45.85
sans=13,417
date-sans=1999
dens=292
date-dens=1999Pamiers is a "commune" in the
Ariège "département" in southwesternFrance . It is a "sous-préfecture" of Ariège. Although Pamiers is the biggest city in Ariège, and the seat of theBishop of Pamiers is atPamiers Cathedral , the "préfecture" (capital) resides in the smaller town ofFoix .Geography
Pamiers is located on the
Ariège River .The local town of Pamiers is famous for its three
bell towers and also is the birthplace of Gabriel Fauré, the classical French musician and composer. It also boasts awards for the equivalent of "towns in bloom" - 'Ville Fleurie'. Local facilities include good restaurants, bars, supermarkets, large public indoor and outdoor swimming pools (one of which is 50m). Pamiers lies in an ancient alluvial plain of theAriege River in the area called "La Basse Ariege", noted for its rich fertile soil ideal for agriculture. Pamiers has 17,000 inhabitants and is the most important town in the department as it is the economical capital of the Ariege.The town itself dates back to the
5th century and its name was derived from the fact that the land around the Ariege River at this point was divided into six sectors based on a measurement called "Pams" (from the Latin "pannium" meaning pieces). Originally it was called "Ville de Pams" - you often hear the word "Appamee" relating to Pamiers. In the 18th century a plural stance on the word was introduced making the name "Apamias" derived from ecclesiastical language and also similar to theOccitan language . The name "Pamias" still exists today on the town sign, alongside the French name Pamiers as one enters the town via the old route from Toulouse, RN20.The main square of Pamiers, Place de la Republique, is paved in red marble. Every week, three large open-air farmers' markets are held, plus a
flea market every Sunday morning. Nearby is the old Tour of the Cordeliars and the large Church of Notre-Dame-Du-Camp.Miscellaneous
Pamiers was the birthplace or hometown of:
*Marc-Guillaume Alexis Vadier (1736-1828), politician of the French Revolution
*Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924),composer
*Théophile Delcassé (1852-1923),statesman
*Pope Benedict XII ee also
*
County of Foix External links
* [http://www.ville-pamiers.fr/ Official website] fr icon
* [http://pamierstourisme.com/ Tourist office website] fr icon
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