Auzat (; Languedocien: Ausat) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.
The commune has been awarded one flower by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.Auzat in the Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom
Geography
Auzat is located some 45 km south by south-west of Pamiers and 40 km north by north-west of Andorra la Vella. Its south-western border is the border between France and Spain and its south-eastern border is the border between France and Andorra. Access to the commune is by road D8 which branches from the D18 at Vicdessos and goes to the village then continues south to access the dam at Etang de Soulcem. Due to the extremely rugged terrain there is no access to Spain or Andorra from the commune. Its highest point is the Pica d'Estats (3143 m), which is located in the Montcalm Massif, exactly on the Spanish border.Google Maps
Many streams rise in the south of the commune and flow north in two parallel main streams - the Ruisseau de la Coume de Subra and the Ruisseau de Mounicou. The Ruisseau de la Coume de Subra joins the Ruisseau de l'Artigue flowing east to join the Ruisseau de Mounicou which continues north to the village where it becomes the Ruisseau de Vicdessos then continues east to join the Ariège at Tarascon-sur-Ariège. There are also many lakes in the south of the commune with the Etang de Soulcem being the largest.
Hamlets and places in the commune Emperrot L'Artigue Marc Saleix Olbier Artiès Mounicou
Neighbouring communes and villages
Environment The commune has a rich environment in terms of Wilderness and ecological potential but industrialization has left traces: in particular the disused Pechiney Aluminium Smelter (closed in 2003) left heavy environmental consequences.
The smelter was ranked 2 under Directive 96/82/EC (Seveso). The plant had an internal landfill site of 1.8 hectares located several kilometres from the smelter site at a place called Massada on the border with Vicdessos commune. This discharge area, as well as the groundwater and soil that supported the plant operations, are polluted by various pollutants including fluorides, cyanides, hydrocarbons, arsenic, aluminium, and barium.Note by ONG on the Robin Hood website entitled "The failures of Pechiney" dated 6 October 2003
History
Onost had the first group housing in the Middle Ages with the Church of Saint-Vincent of Onost mentioned in the 11th century Auzat village was founded in the 11th or 12th century. It was a village grouped around the present Rue du Fort and the Rue du Rocher 12th-15th centuries: domination by Montreal-de-Sos, castle of the Counts of Foix 1907: Construction of the Pechiney Smelter to manufacture ingots and billets of aluminum 1908: construction of a central hydroelectric station to supply electricity to the Pechiney smelter 1911: opening of the Tramway de Tarascon-sur-Ariège à Auzat 1939: The Catastrophe of Izourt - an avalanche that killed 28 peopleCatastrophe of Izourt 1990: Implementation of the Montcalm Water Company 2003: closure of the Pechiney smelter 2007: Opening of the House of heritage 2011: a new athletics stadium was inaugurated in the presence of President of the FFA, Bernard Amsalem
Administration
List of Successive MayorsList of Mayors of France From To Name Party Position 1867 1871 Victorin Galy General Councillor 1985 2014 Bernard Piquemal PS General Councillor 2014 2020 Jean Pierre Ruffé President of the Community of Communes 2020 2026 Abdel El Yacoubi
Twinning Since 2003, the Auzat valley and Vicdessos have developed special links with Italy, especially with the Veneto and Friuli regions which were the origins of the victims of the Izourt Dam disaster in Auzat that had resulted in the deaths of 29 Italians and 3 Frenchmen on 24 March 1939. The Ricordate Association, with the support of elected officials, regularly organizes events and commemorations for the victims' families to honour their dead and to better understand the circumstances of the accident.Izourt Dam disaster
Demography The inhabitants of the commune are known as Auzatois or Auzatoises in French.Le nom des habitants du 09 - Ariège, habitants.fr
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage The Chateau of Montreal-de-Sos is located on a rocky escarpment overlooking the hamlet of Olbier The Vicdessos Valley The Vicdessos Lakes
Religious heritage The commune has several religious buildings: The Cemetery Chapel has a Statue of Saint Bartholomew (15th century) which is registered as an historical objectMinistry of Culture, Palissy The Church of Auxat has three items that are registered as historical objects: A Chandelier (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Ciborium (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Monstrance (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy The Church of Olbier has one item that is registered as an historical object: A Collection Plate (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy The Church of Saleix has many items that are registered as historical objects: A Chalice (17th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Tabernacle (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy 2 Statues: Virgin and Child, Saint Joseph (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy Group sculpture: Virgin of Pity (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Collection Plate: the Annunciation (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Collection Plate: Adam and Eve (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy 2 Statues: Saint Roch, Saint John (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Chandelier (19th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy
Notable people linked to the commune Jean Sérafin, footballer Aimé Molinié, senator
See also Communes of the Ariège department
References
External links
Auzat official website Auzat on the old IGN website Vicdessos Valley official website The catastrophe of Izourt Ausat on the 1750 Cassini Map