France–Spain border

The France–Spain border was formally defined in 1659. It separates the two countries from Hendaye and Irun in the west, running through the Pyrenees to Cerbère and Portbou on the Mediterranean Sea.

France–Spain border
The border, as seen on the map
Characteristics
Entities France  Spain
Length623 km
Enclave and exclaves1
History
TreatiesTreaty of the Pyrenees, 1659

Features

Main border
The border between France and Spain in Portalet d'Aneu
Marker indicating the border between France and Spain, in the towns of Llivia (Girona) and Angoustrine-Villeneuve-des-Escaldes (Pyrénées-Orientales)

The Franco-Spanish border runs for 656.3 kilometres (407.8 mi) between southwestern France and northeastern Spain. It begins in the west on the Bay of Biscay at the French city of Hendaye and the Spanish city of Irun (43°22′32″N 01°47′31″W). The border continues eastward along the Pyrenees to Andorra (42°36′13″N 1°26′30″E). At this point, the small country interrupts the border between Spain and France for 63.7 kilometres (39.6 mi) on the Spanish side and 56 kilometres (35 mi) on the French side. Then it continues eastward (42°30′09″N 01°43′34″E) to the Mediterranean Sea at Cerbère in France and Portbou in Spain (42°26′09″N 03°10′26″E).

From west to east, crossing the border:

Llívia

Spain has an exclave in France, Llívia, in the Pyrénées-Orientales.

Pheasant Island

Shortly after the start of the western border, following the course of Bidasoa River, Pheasant Island located in the middle of the river has a particular border regime: the island is a condominium whose sovereignty is shared between the two countries determined by if it is the first or the second half of a year.[1]

History
Border pass for Spanish farmers to access their fields on the French side. As agreed in the Bayonne treaties 1856 and 1862. Type shown introduced 1949, issued 1965.

Background

The formal layout of the Franco-Spanish border dates back to the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees between the kingdoms of Spain and France in 1659. This would be followed by the Treaty of Llivia the following year, which transferred to France the sovereignty of several villages in the valley of Querol.

Later there would be some agreements on specific areas: the agreement signed in Perpignan in 1764, which established the boundaries between Empordà and Coll Pertús[2] and the Elizondo Treaty in 1785 establishing limits on the height of Aldudes is demarcated and Valcarlos.[3]

Bayonne Treaties

The final definition, that for the most part still in force, was conducted with the signing of the Bayonne Treaties between 1856 and 1868. During the mandates of the Queen of Spain Isabel II and French emperor Napoleon III between the two countries were signed several agreements by which the border was established:[4]

  • The Treaty of 1856, establishing the boundary between the provinces of Guipuzcoa is demarcated and Navarre.
  • The treaty of 1862, which marked the boundaries in the provinces of Huesca and Lleida.
  • The treaty of 1866, which did the same from the valley of Andorra to Mediterranean.
  • Final Act of limits, signed in 1868.

Subsequent amendments

Later both countries concluded agreements under the same point. In 1980 an agreement was signed to define the border into the Bielsa-Aragnouet tunnel,[5] and 1984, during the construction of the road linking the Roncal Valley with Arette, it was agreed a mutual transfer of land of 2710 m2.[6]

In 1995, with the entry into force of Schengen Agreement, border controls for people and goods were abolished, thus ensuring freedom of movement across the border.

Marking
A border marker between Vera de Bidasoa and Biriatou

Following the provisions of the treaties of Bayonne, the border is physically marked on the ground by 602 cairns showing the division between the two countries. These markers are numbered from west to east: one located on the Bidasoa and the last in Cap Cerbere, marked with consecutive numbers and letters.

Another 45 cairns mark the border around Llivia; they are numbered anticlockwise from the number 1 at the entrance of the French road RD-68 in the enclave. Maintaining this signaling runs either on behalf of both states.[4][6]

Major crossings
Poster entry to Spain
Poster entry to France

References
  1. Internet, Unidad Editorial. "España asume la jurisdicción de la isla de los Faisanes, la más pequeña del mundo". Elmundo.es. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  2. Cantillo, Alejandro del (1843). Tratados, convenios y declaraciones de paz y de comercio: que han hecho con las potencias estranjeras los monarcas españoles de la casa de Borbon : desde el año de 1700 hasta el dia. Alegria y Charlain. Retrieved 22 January 2019 – via Internet Archive.
  3. Cantillo, Alejandro del (1843). Tratados, convenios y declaraciones de paz y de comercio: que han hecho con las potencias estranjeras los monarcas españoles de la casa de Borbon : desde el año de 1700 hasta el dia. Alegria y Charlain. Retrieved 22 January 2019 – via Internet Archive.
  4. Treaties of Bayonne of 1856, 1862, 1866 and 1868, Fama2.us.es
  5. "Convenio de 25 de abril de 1980 entre España y Francia para fijar la delimitación de la frontera en el interior del túnel transpirenaico Bielsa Aragnouet, hecho en París". Noticias Jurídicas. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  6. "United Nations - Office of Legal Affairs". Legal.un.org. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
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