Ariège
Details
Information
Number	09
Region	Midi-Pyrénées
Prefecture	Foix
Subprefectures	Pamiers Saint-Girons
Population  - Total (1999)  - Density	Ranked 96th 137,205 28 /km²
Area	4,890 km²
Arrondissements	3
Cantons	22
Communes	332
President of the general council	XX
Location

Ariège is a département in southwestern France named after the Ariège River.

History

Ariège was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from the counties of Foix and Couserans.

Geography

The department is part of the current region of Midi-Pyrénées and is surrounded by the French departments of Haute-Garonne, Aude, and Pyrénées-Orientales, as well as Spain and Andorra on the south.

The geography is dominated by the Pyrenees mountains, which form the border between France and Spain.

Demographics

The inhabitants of the department are called Ariégois.

Culture

The region was originally part of Aquitaine and has retained many hallmarks of the Gascon culture and Gascon language.

Miscellaneous topics

List of the communes of the Ariège département

External links

• Conseil general website (in French)
• Prefecture website (in French)
• http://www.ariege.com/