Haute-Garonne
Encyclopedia
Haute-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France
named after the Garonne
river. Its main city is Toulouse
.
on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc
.
The department was originally larger. The reduction in its area resulted from an imperial
decree dated 21 November 1808 and which established the neighbouring department of Tarn-et-Garonne
, to the north. The new department, created in response to the pleadings of various locally powerful politicians, took territory from five surrounding departments including Haute-Garonne. The districts lost to Tarn-et-Garonne in 1808 were those of Montech
and Castelsarrasin
.
of Midi-Pyrénées
and is surrounded by the departments of Hautes-Pyrénées
, Gers
, Tarn-et-Garonne
, Tarn, Aude
, and Ariège
. It also borders Spain
in the south (province of Lleida
and province of Huesca
).
The department is crossed by the upper course of the Garonne River (hence the name) for nearly 200 kilometres (124.3 mi). The borders of the department follow the river. The Garonne enters France from Spain at the town of Fos, goes through Toulouse
and leaves the department The extreme south of the department lies in the Pyrenees
mountain range and is very mountainous. The highest elevation is the Peak of Perdiguère, at 3,222 meters (10,571 ft) above sea level.
.
. The south of the department is quite sparsely populated. More than a million people inhabited the department at the last census
in 1999. Young people are well represented with 55% of the population under the age of 40 and of those, 16% are between the ages of 20 and 29. This is because Toulouse
is a university
town.
The largest towns are:
resorts.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
named after the Garonne
Garonne
The Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
river. Its main city is Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
.
History
Haute-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
.
The department was originally larger. The reduction in its area resulted from an imperial
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
decree dated 21 November 1808 and which established the neighbouring department of Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne is a French department in the southwest of France. It is traversed by the Rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name.-History:...
, to the north. The new department, created in response to the pleadings of various locally powerful politicians, took territory from five surrounding departments including Haute-Garonne. The districts lost to Tarn-et-Garonne in 1808 were those of Montech
Montech
Montech is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France.-References:*...
and Castelsarrasin
Castelsarrasin
Castelsarrasin is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in Midi-Pyrénées region of France. The inhabitants are called Castelsarrasinois.-History:The first signs of life in the town is from 961...
.
Geography
Haute-Garonne is part of the current regionRégions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées is the largest region of metropolitan France by area, larger than the Netherlands or Denmark.Midi-Pyrénées has no historical or geographical unity...
and is surrounded by the departments of Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées is a department in southwestern France. It is part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.-History:...
, Gers
Gers
The Gers is a department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the southwest of France named after the Gers River.Inhabitants are called les Gersois or Gersoises.-History:...
, Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne
Tarn-et-Garonne is a French department in the southwest of France. It is traversed by the Rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name.-History:...
, Tarn, Aude
Aude
Aude is a department in south-central France named after the river Aude. The local council also calls the department "Cathar Country".Aude is also a frequent feminine French given name in Francophone countries, deriving initially from Aude or Oda, a wife of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and mother...
, and Ariège
Ariège
Ariège is a department in southwestern France named after the Ariège River.- History :Ariège is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from the counties of Foix and Couserans....
. It also borders Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the south (province of Lleida
Lleida (province)
thumb|250px|Monastery of [[Santa Maria de Bellpuig de les Avellanes]].Lleida is a province of north-eastern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It is bordered by the provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Zaragoza and Huesca and the countries of France and...
and province of Huesca
Huesca (province)
Huesca , officially Huesca/Uesca, is a province of northeastern Spain, in northern Aragon. The capital is Huesca.Positioned just south of the central Pyrenees, Huesca borders France and the French Departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées...
).
The department is crossed by the upper course of the Garonne River (hence the name) for nearly 200 kilometres (124.3 mi). The borders of the department follow the river. The Garonne enters France from Spain at the town of Fos, goes through Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
and leaves the department The extreme south of the department lies in the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
mountain range and is very mountainous. The highest elevation is the Peak of Perdiguère, at 3,222 meters (10,571 ft) above sea level.
Politics
The President of the General Council is Pierre Izard of the Socialist PartySocialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
.
| Party | seats | |
|---|---|---|
| • | Socialist Party Socialist Party (France) The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement... |
43 |
| Union for a Popular Movement Union for a Popular Movement The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party... |
3 | |
| Miscellaneous Right Miscellaneous Right Miscellaneous Right in France refers to right-wing candidates that are not member of any large party. They either include small right-wing parties, dissidents expelled from their parties for running against their party's candidate, as well as candidates who were never formal members of a party... |
3 | |
| • | Miscellaneous Left Miscellaneous Left Miscellaneous Left in France refers to left-wing candidates that are not member of any large party. They either include small left-wing parties or dissidents expelled from their parties for running against their party's candidate. Numerous DVG candidates are elected at a local level, and a smaller... |
2 |
| • | Left Radical Party Left Radical Party The Radical Party of the Left is a minor social-liberal, and in opposition to its common understanding of its name, a moderate centre-left political party in France advocating radicalism, secularism to its french extend known as laïcité, progressivism, pro-Europeanism, individual freedom and... |
1 |
| • | French Communist Party French Communist Party The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French... |
1 |
Demographics
The inhabitants of the department are called Haut-Garonnais. The greatest population concentration is around ToulouseToulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
. The south of the department is quite sparsely populated. More than a million people inhabited the department at the last census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
in 1999. Young people are well represented with 55% of the population under the age of 40 and of those, 16% are between the ages of 20 and 29. This is because Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
is a university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
town.
The largest towns are:
| Commune | Population (1999) | Commune | Population (1999) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea... |
390,350 | Colomiers Colomiers Colomiers is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is the largest suburb of the city of Toulouse, and is adjacent to it on the west side... |
28,538 |
| Tournefeuille Tournefeuille Tournefeuille is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is the second-largest suburb of the city of Toulouse, and is adjacent to it on the west side. It is a member of the Grand Toulouse.-Population:-Sport:... |
22,758 | Muret Muret Muret is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is an outer suburb of the city of Toulouse, even though it does not belong to Greater Toulouse, which it has declined to join... |
20,735 |
| Blagnac Blagnac Blagnac is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is the third-largest suburb of the city of Toulouse, although governed by a separate council, and is adjacent to it on the northwest side. It is a member of the Urban community of Greater Toulouse... |
20,586 | Plaisance-du-Touch Plaisance-du-Touch Plaisance-du-Touch is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. It has a fine church with a notable organ by the Toulouse builder Puget.-Population:-External links:*... |
14,164 |
| Cugnaux Cugnaux Cugnaux is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*... |
12,997 | L'Union L'Union L'Union is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is a suburb of Toulouse, located just to the north east of the city.-History:L'Union was founded in the 1790s after the fusion of Belbèze and Cornaudric... |
12,141 |
| Balma Balma Balma is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. It is east of Toulouse.The name of the town comes from the old Provençal word meaning "cave" or "grotto".-History:... |
11,944 | Ramonville-Saint-Agne Ramonville-Saint-Agne Ramonville-Saint-Agne is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*... |
11,696 |
| Saint-Orens-de-Gameville Saint-Orens-de-Gameville Saint-Orens-de-Gameville, also referred to as Saint-Orens, is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France.-Population:Its inhabtitants are called Saint-Orennais.-References:*... |
11,142 | Saint-Gaudens | 10,845 |
| Castanet-Tolosan Castanet-Tolosan Castanet-Tolosan is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*... |
10,250 | Portet-sur-Garonne Portet-sur-Garonne Portet-sur-Garonne is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*... |
8,737 |
| Saint-Jean Saint-Jean, Haute-Garonne Saint-Jean is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is located northeast of Toulouse on the N88 or road of Albi .-Population:- External links :*... |
8,362 | Villeneuve-Tolosane Villeneuve-Tolosane Villeneuve-Tolosane is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*... |
8,252 |
| Revel Revel, Haute-Garonne Revel is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Location:Revel is situated about 35 miles east of Toulouse... |
7,985 | Castelginest Castelginest Castelginest is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*... |
7,735 |
| Pibrac Pibrac Pibrac is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France, located west of Toulouse.It has recently grown thanks to the development of the aeroplane industry in the nearby town of Blagnac.-Population:-Sights:... |
7,440 | Fonsorbes Fonsorbes Fonsorbes is a commune of the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*... |
6,909 |
Winter Sports
The department has four skiSki
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
resorts.
- Peyragudes (1600 m -2450 m), 55 km of slopes
- Luchon-Superbagnères (1440 m - 2260 m), 30 km of slopes
- Le Mourtis (1380 m - 1816 m), 22 km of slopes
- Bourg-d'Oueil (1350 m - 1500 m)
See also
- Cantons of the Haute-Garonne department
- Communes of the Haute-Garonne department
- Arrondissements of the Haute-Garonne department