Quillan
Encyclopedia
Quillan is a commune
in the Aude
department in southern France
.
, on the road between Carcassonne
and Perpignan
.
Quillan, at the top of the Haute Valley of the Aude, close to the mountains, is a medium
sized town 6 km from Espéraza
and is popular for white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking on the Aude River
(Alet-les-Bains
is another good place to go for white water sports).
. The town was particularly noted for hat making. However, new and easier routes joining Carcassonne to Perpignan via Narbonne for example have contributed to the town's unemployment during more recent years. Quillan looks increasingly to develop its tourism and with some measure of success. The immediate area is rich in geographical and historical interest.
and Espéraza on the way but the service is limited and many of the train services are replaced by buses. Leaving Quillan the main road (D117) leads to Perpignan
. Down to Barcelona
or up to Narbonne
and the TGV
lines across the South of France.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the 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...
department in southern France
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...
.
Geography
Quillan is located at the foothills of the PyreneesPyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, on the road between Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
and Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
.
Quillan, at the top of the Haute Valley of the Aude, close to the mountains, is a medium
sized town 6 km from Espéraza
Espéraza
Espéraza is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.It lies on the River Aude just north of the foothills of the Pyrenees.-Population:-History:* The church was built during the 13th century....
and is popular for white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking on the Aude River
Aude River
The Aude River is a river of southwestern France. Its source is in the Pyrenees mountains and it then runs to Carcassonne and turns, reaching the Mediterranean Sea near Narbonne...
(Alet-les-Bains
Alet-les-Bains
Alet-les-Bains is a commune in the Aude department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.-Geography:...
is another good place to go for white water sports).
History
Quillan was a significant town on an ancient winding road linking Carcassonne with Perpignan. The river Aude traditionally carried timber and other local products to Carcassonne and the Canal du MidiCanal du Midi
The is a long canal in Southern France . The canal connects the Garonne River to the on the Mediterranean and along with the Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau...
. The town was particularly noted for hat making. However, new and easier routes joining Carcassonne to Perpignan via Narbonne for example have contributed to the town's unemployment during more recent years. Quillan looks increasingly to develop its tourism and with some measure of success. The immediate area is rich in geographical and historical interest.
Population
Economy
Jean Bourrel, a local businessman who developed a millinery factory in the town, was responsible for the construction of houses, and creation of fashionable hats. Many of these houses have been converted into luxurious holiday homes.Culture
During each August there is a week of the Folklore Festival where dancers, musicians and singers from 10 or 12 different countries perform during the day and evening on the town square of Quillan.Transportation
The railway line from Carcassonne runs here stopping in LimouxLimoux
Limoux is a commune and subprefecture in the Aude department, a part of the ancient Languedoc province and the present-day Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France...
and Espéraza on the way but the service is limited and many of the train services are replaced by buses. Leaving Quillan the main road (D117) leads to Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
. Down to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
or up to Narbonne
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
and the TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
lines across the South of France.