L'Albère

L'Albère (French pronunciation: [lalbɛʁ] ^ⓘ; Catalan: L'Albera) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.^[3]

L’Albère
Commune
The hamlet of Saint-Jean seen from the trail leading to the dolmen of Balma de Na Cristiana
Location of L’Albère
L’Albère Show map of France L’Albère Show map of Occitanie
Coordinates: 42°29′01″N 2°53′41″E
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Pyrénées-Orientales
Arrondissement	Céret
Canton	Vallespir-Albères
Intercommunality	Vallespir
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Marc de Besombes-Singla[1]
Area 1	17.10 km2 (6.60 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	63
• Density	3.7/km2 (9.5/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	66001 /66480
Elevation	266–1,116 m (873–3,661 ft) (avg. 532 m or 1,745 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

Localisation

L'Albère is located in the canton of Vallespir-Albères and in the arrondissement of Céret.

Map of L'Albère and its surrounding communes

Toponymy

The name of L'Albère is clearly issued from the Albera Massif in which it is located. Although always plural in French (Albères) concerning the mountain range, the name remains singular through the ages (L'Albère) for the commune. On the contrary, in Catalan, the name has always been singular for both the mountain (Serra de l'Albera) and the place (L'Albera).^[4][5]

History

Early settlements of population grew near the two primitive churches: Saint Martin, already named in 844 (cella Sancti Martini de Monte Furcato) and Saint John, known since 1089 (ecclesiae Sancti Ioannis de Albera). The hamlets of Saint Martin and Saint John both still exist nowadays, each with its church.^[6]

Government and politics

Canton

In 1790, the commune of L'Albère is included into the canton of Argelès, then part of the Céret district. It is moved to the canton of Laroque in 1793 and back to the canton of Argelès in 1801, before being finally included in the canton of Céret in 1947.^[7] Following the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015, L'Albère is now part of the canton of Vallespir-Albères.^[8]

Mayors

List of successive mayors of L'Albère^[9]

Mayor	In office		Party	Notes
Sylvestre Vilallongue	1795	1801
Jacques Oriol	1802	1813
Joseph Reste	1813	1830
Jacques Oriol	1831	1834
Joseph Reste fils	1835	1877
Albert Oriol	1878	1884
Gustave Tarres	1885	1887
Auguste Vinyes	1888	1904
Justin Besombes	1904	1934
Antoine de Besombes-Singla	1935	1971
Pierre de Besombes-Singla	March 1971	April 2013
Marc de Besombes-Singla	May 2013	Incumbent		Son of previous mayor.

Population and society

Demography

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	61	—
1975	62	+0.23%
1982	50	−3.03%
1990	54	+0.97%
1999	69	+2.76%
2007	74	+0.88%
2012	82	+2.07%
2017	80	−0.49%
Source: INSEE[10]

Education

There is no school in L'Albère. The nearest is in Le Perthus.

Events

• Patronal feast : 5 August.
• Communal feast : 2nd Sunday of August.

Health

There are no doctors in L'Albère. The nearest are in Le Perthus.

Sports

L'Albère has several climbing sites.

Sites of interest

Church Saint-Martin

• Balma de Na Cristiana : a large dolmen.
• Saint-John Church
• Saint-Martin Church
• Saint-Christopher chapel

See also

• Communes of the Pyrénées-Orientales department