Aulus-les-Bains

Aulus-les-Bains is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.

Aulus-les-Bains
Commune
Aulus-les-Bains village
Location of Aulus-les-Bains
Aulus-les-Bains
Aulus-les-Bains
Coordinates: 42°47′30″N 1°20′19″E
CountryFrance
RegionOccitanie
DepartmentAriège
ArrondissementSaint-Girons
CantonCouserans Est
IntercommunalityCC Couserans - Pyrénées
Government
 • Mayor (2014-2020) Michel Veyssière
Area
1
52.24 km2 (20.17 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
158
 • Density3.0/km2 (7.8/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
09029 /09140
Elevation719–2,698 m (2,359–8,852 ft)
(avg. 750 m or 2,460 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Aulusiens or Aulusiennes.[2]

Geography
The Col de Saleich in 1882

Aulus-les-Bains is located at the head of the Garbet river valley and beneath the Guzet-Neige ski resort some 35 km south-east of Saint-Girons and 25 km south-west of Tarascon-sur-Ariège at an altitude of 750 metres. Access to the commune is by the D8F road which branches from the D3 west of the commune and follows a tortuous route to the village before continuing by an even more tortuous route to join the D18 in the east. The D32 road comes from Ercé in the north to the village. The commune is mountainous and heavily forested with large areas in the south above the snow line.[3]

The village is best known for its thermal springs and spa complex. There are several Belle Époque buildings with some still offering hotel accommodation. The village is very popular in winter for skiing and in the summer for walking and cycling. The local beauty spot and waterfall, the Cascade d'Ars, is a one-hour walk from the village. Cyclists can climb the Col de Latrappe or the Col d'Agnes directly from the village.

There are two holiday cottages: the Presbytère and the Goulue. Other local amenities include a bar/café, a pizzeria/health food restaurant, a tobacconist, a mini supermarket, a post office, and a butcher shop.

The Garbet river rises in the commune and gathers a very large number of tributaries in the commune as it flows north-west through the village to join the Salat north of Oust. There are numerous streams and ponds throughout the commune which all flow to join the Garbet.[3]

Neighbouring communes and villages

[3]

History

From the early 19th century, Aulus expanded as a health spa, frequented by "invalids of love" or "young people with shameful illnesses". This came about after a syphilitic army lieutenant had found some relief in its waters, probably because they counteracted the effects of the mercury then used to treat syphilis patients. The lieutenant's regiment spread the word: by 1849 Aulus had three hotels, a new bridge and an avenue of acacia trees to attract visitors.

During the Second World War in January 1942, 686 foreign Jews were sent to stay in Aulus. The Vichy government arrested 174 Polish Jews out of this group on 26 August 1942 and took them to Vernet. A further 100 were added from elsewhere in the department then they were all taken to Drancy on the way to Auschwitz. On arrival all but 44 were killed and only 26 survived the war. A further 266 Jews were arrested by the Germans on 9 January 1943 and only 83 survived from this group.[4]

Administration

List of mayors[5]

FromToNamePartyPosition
20012008Jean-Michel RossellPS
20082020Michel VeyssièrePCF

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 158 inhabitants.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 1,021—    
1800 884−2.04%
1806 1,026+2.51%
1821 991−0.23%
1831 897−0.99%
1836 1,003+2.26%
1841 1,011+0.16%
1846 953−1.17%
1851 958+0.10%
1856 898−1.29%
1861 925+0.59%
1866 910−0.33%
1872 951+0.74%
1876 954+0.08%
1881 875−1.71%
1886 893+0.41%
1891 798−2.22%
1896 707−2.39%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 739+0.89%
1906 724−0.41%
1911 742+0.49%
1921 613−1.89%
1926 602−0.36%
1931 606+0.13%
1936 590−0.53%
1946 482−2.00%
1954 402−2.24%
1962 292−3.92%
1968 227−4.11%
1975 182−3.11%
1982 208+1.93%
1990 210+0.12%
1999 189−1.16%
2007 205+1.02%
2012 181−2.46%
2017 158−2.68%
Source: EHESS[6] and INSEE[7]

Economy

Aulus-les-Bains is a hydro-mineral resort whose sources, which were known to the Romans, found fame at the beginning of the 19th century. Today Aulus-les-Bains is still best known for its hot springs. With syphilis now curable, the village markets itself as the "Cholesterol Spa".[8] The water from the springs is also used to treat ailments such as urinary problems, arthritis, and some disorders of the nervous system. The village is also the point of departure for the many hikers wishing to visit the surrounding valleys and mountains.

Sites and monuments
  • The Hot springs.
  • The Cascade d'Ars (Ars waterfall), which is 246 metres high and has three levels. There are many walks going up to and around the waterfall taking from three and a half hours to nine hours ranging from easy to very difficult.
  • The Parish Church contains three items that are registered as historical objects:
    • A Collection Plate (16th century)[9]
    • A Collection Plate depicting the Annunciation (16th century)[10]
    • A Chalice with Paten (19th century)[11]

The GR10 hiking trail passes through the commune from the Lac d'Izourt in the south-west to Ustou in the west.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Inhabitants of Ariège (in French)
  3. Google Maps
  4. Aulus-les-Bains. When Vichy arrested the Jews (in French)
  5. List of Mayors of France (in French)
  6. Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Aulus-les-Bains, EHESS. (in French)
  7. Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  8. Graham Robb, The Discovery of France, Picador, London (2007), p.308 (quoting Émile Labroue, "À travers les Pyrénées: Aulus" in BSG commerciale de Bordeaux (1884) p.164)
  9. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM09000044 Collection Plate (in French)
  10. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM09000043 Collection Plate depicting the Annunciation (in French)
  11. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM09000042 Chalice with Paten (in French)
  12. Aulus-les-Bains on Géoportail
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