Mont-Louis (; or el Vilar d'Ovansa) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.INSEE commune file
Geography Mont-Louis is located in the canton of Les Pyrénées catalanes and in the arrondissement of Prades. Mont-Louis-La Cabanasse station has rail connections to Villefranche-de-Conflent and Latour-de-Carol.
Government and politics
Mayors
Mayor Term start Term endMichel Aldebert Fabricio Cardenas, Vieux papiers des Pyrénées-Orientales, Mont-Louis, le 15 juin 1815, 16 january 2014c. 1815?Christian Pécout20012002Jean-Michel Larmet20022010Pierrette Cordelette2010
Population
Sites of interest
In 2008, the citadel and the city walls of Mont-Louis were listed as part of the Fortifications of Vauban UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its outstanding engineering and testimony to the development of military architecture in the 17th through 19th centuries.
The Mont-Louis Solar Furnace, is the world's first solar furnace, built in 1949, by engineer Félix Trombe. It is open to visit for practical education on solar energy uses and technologies.
The citadel has been hosting for more than half a century the National Commando Training Center (French Army) which trains elite French troops and some foreign ones in the usage of commando techniques and for enduring heavy physical and mental stress in combat situations. Nevertheless, some places of the citadel, like the "Puits de Forçats", in the French page. can also be visited, being accompanied by a local guide.
Notable people
Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633-1707), military engineer who conceived and directed the construction of Mont-Louis. Antoine de Léris (1723-1795), French journalist and drama critic of the 18th century and a historian of the French theatre Pedro Étienne Solère (1753–1817), classical clarinetist Jean Gilles (1904-1961), French Army general who died in Mont-Louis.
See also Communes of the Pyrénées-Orientales department Mont-Louis Solar Furnace Ligne de Cerdagne
References
External links Webpage about the fortifications of Mont-Louis