Pamiers

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Categories: France articles requiring maintenance | Midi-Pyrénées geography stubs | Communes of Ariège | Subprefectures in France

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Administration
Commune of Pamiers Image:Pamiers-vue générale.jpg General view of Pamiers
Location
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Country	France
Region	Midi-Pyrénées
Department	Ariège (sous-préfecture)
Arrondissement	Pamiers
Canton	Pamiers-Est Pamiers-Ouest
Intercommunality	Pays de Pamiers
Mayor	André Trigano (2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation	256 m–473 m (avg. 298 m)
Land area^¹	45.85 km²
Population^² (1999)	13,417
- Density	292/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	09225/ 09100
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel).

Pamiers is a commune of the Ariège département, in southwestern France. It is a sous-préfecture of Ariège. Although Pamiers is the most populous commune in Ariège, and the seat of the Bishop of Pamiers is at Pamiers Cathedral, the préfecture (capital) resides in the smaller town of Foix.

1 Geography
2 Miscellaneous
3 See also
4 External links

Geography

Pamiers is located on the Ariège River.

The local town of Pamiers is famous for its 3 bell towers and also is the birthplace of Gabriel Fauré, the classical French musician and composer. It also boasts awards for the equivalent of "towns in bloom" - 'Ville Fleurie'. Local facilities include good restaurants, bars, supermarkets, large public indoor and outdoor swimming pools, (one of 50m).

Pamiers lies in an ancient alluvial plain of the Ariege River in the area called La Basse Ariege. Here there is a rich fertile soil ideal for agriculture which is evident all around. Pamiers has 17,000 inhabitants and is the most important town in the department as it is the economical capital of the Ariege.

The town itself dates back to the 5th century and its name was derived from the fact that the land around the Ariege River at this point was divided into six sectors based on a measurement called "Pams" (from the Latin "pannium" meaning pieces). Originally it was called "Ville de Pams" - you often hear the word "Appamee" relating to Pamiers! In the 18th century a plural stance on the word was introduced making the name "Apamias" derived from ecclesiastical language and also similar to the Occitan language. The name "Pamias" still exists today on the town sign, alongside the French name Pamiers as you enter the town via the old route from Toulouse, RN20.

The main square of Pamiers, Place de la Republique is paved in red marble and a lovely place to sit with a drink and watch the world go by. Every week, 3 large open air farmers markets are held, plus a "flea" market every Sunday morning. Nearby you will find the old Tour of the Cordeliars and the large Church of Notre-Dame-Du-Camp.