Coustaussa

Coustaussa (French pronunciation: [kustosa] ^ⓘ; Occitan: Costauçan) is a commune in the Aude department in Occitanie region in southern France. Its inhabitants are called Coustaussans.

Coustaussa
Commune
The chateau ruins in Coustaussa
Coat of arms
Location of Coustaussa
Coustaussa Show map of France Coustaussa Show map of Occitanie
Coordinates: 42°56′30″N 2°16′44″E
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Aude
Arrondissement	Limoux
Canton	La Haute-Vallée de l'Aude
Intercommunality	Limouxin
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Didier Tricoire[1]
Area 1	4.47 km2 (1.73 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	50
• Density	11/km2 (29/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	11109 /11190
Elevation	235–548 m (771–1,798 ft) (avg. 318 m or 1,043 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

The village is situated in the high valley of the Aude, on the river Sals between Arques and Couiza.

History

In the twelfth century, the lordship of Coustaussa belonged to the Vilar family. In the fourteenth century, it was in the hands of the de Fenouillet family. In 1367, by the marriage of Geraude de Fenouillet to Saix de Montesquieu, the lordship passed to the Montesquieus who kept it until the French Revolution.^[3]

During the night of 31 October to 1 November 1897, the parish priest of Coustaussa, the Abbé Antoine Gélis, was brutally murdered in his presbytery. The crime was not solved. The Abbé was found during the investigation to possess large sums of money which had not been taken by his assailants.^[4]

Administration

Since March 2001, the Mayor of the commune has been Robert Sanchez.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1962	62	—
1968	69	+11.3%
1975	59	−14.5%
1982	52	−11.9%
1990	43	−17.3%
1999	49	+14.0%
2008	55	+12.2%

Places of interest

Coustaussa has a ruined castle.

See also

• Communes of the Aude department