Lagrasse

Lagrasse
La Grassa (Occitan)
View of Lagrasse
View of Lagrasse
Coat of arms of Lagrasse
Location of Lagrasse
Lagrasse is located in France
Lagrasse
Lagrasse
Lagrasse is located in Occitanie
Lagrasse
Lagrasse
Coordinates: 43°05′28″N 2°37′10″E
Country France
Region Occitania
Department Aude
Arrondissement Narbonne
Canton Les Corbières
Intercommunality Région Lézignanaise, Corbières et Minervois
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) René Ortega
Area
1
32.2 km2 (12.4 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2021)
541
 • Density 17/km2 (44/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
11185 /11220
Elevation 82–586 m (269–1,923 ft)
(avg. 108 m or 354 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Lagrasse (French pronunciation: [laɡʁas] ; Occitan: La Grassa) is a commune in the Aude department in the Occitanie region of Southern France. Lagrasse is part of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The most beautiful villages of France") association.

Geography

Lagrasse is about 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Carcassonne. It lies in the valley of the River Orbieu, at the foot of the Pyrenees.

History

Lagrasse dates from the time the abbey was built. Permission for the construction was given by Charlemagne in 783.

Population

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1968 665 —    
1975 623 −0.93%
1982 696 +1.60%
1990 704 +0.14%
1999 615 −1.49%
2009 598 −0.28%
2014 557 −1.41%
2020 544 −0.39%
Source: INSEE

Sights

The two highlights of the village are the eponymous Abbey and the bridges, although the narrow medieval streets of the village itself are also very attractive, and remains of the town walls can still be seen.

Economy

The region is renowned for the wine produced in the surrounding hills - this is the Corbières wine region, the largest wine-producing region in France.

The village is now home to numerous pottery workers and artists, and host numerous cultural and intellectual festivals such as "Le Banquet du Livre" and the "En Blanc et Noir: Festival International de Piano Robert Turnbull."

See also