Lagrasse
La Grassa (Occitan) | |
|---|---|
 View of Lagrasse | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Location of Lagrasse | |
Lagrasse Lagrasse | |
| Coordinates: 43°05′28″N 2°37′10″E / 43.091°N 2.6195°E / 43.091; 2.6195 | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Aude |
| Arrondissement | Narbonne |
| Canton | Les Corbières |
| Intercommunality | Région Lézignanaise, Corbières et Minervois |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | René Ortega1 |
Area 1 | 32.2 km2 (12.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)2 | 554 |
| • Density | 17.2/km2 (44.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 11185 /11220 |
| Elevation | 82–586 m (269–1,923 ft) (avg. 108 m or 354 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Lagrasse (French pronunciation: [laɡʁas] ⓘ; Occitan: La Grassa) is a commune in the Aude department in the Occitanie region of Southern France. Lagrasse is part of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The most beautiful villages of France") association.3
Geography
Lagrasse is about 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Carcassonne. It lies in the valley of the River Orbieu, at the foot of the Pyrenees.
History
Lagrasse dates from the time the abbey was built. Permission for the construction was given by Charlemagne in 783.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 665 | — |
| 1975 | 623 | −0.93% |
| 1982 | 696 | +1.60% |
| 1990 | 704 | +0.14% |
| 1999 | 615 | −1.49% |
| 2007 | 601 | −0.29% |
| 2012 | 566 | −1.19% |
| 2017 | 545 | −0.75% |
| 2023 | 554 | +0.27% |
| Source: INSEE4 | ||
Sights
The two highlights of the village are the eponymous Abbey5 and the bridges, although the narrow medieval streets of the village itself are also very attractive, and remains of the town walls can still be seen.
Economy
The region is renowned for the wine produced in the surrounding hills - this is the Corbières wine region, the largest wine-producing region in France.
The village is now home to numerous pottery workers and artists, and host numerous cultural and intellectual festivals such as "Le Banquet du Livre" and the "En Blanc et Noir: Festival International de Piano Robert Turnbull."
References
References
- "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
- "List of "Plus Beaux Villages de France"". Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
- Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023, INSEE
- St. Mary's Abbey, Lagrasse Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine