Coll de la Maçana
| Coll de la Maçana | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass height | 981 m | ||
| Department | Pyrénées-Orientales , France | ||
| Valley locations | Argelès-sur-Mer | Espolla | |
| Mountains | Pyrenees | ||
| Map (Pyrénées-Orientales) | |||
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| Coordinates | 42 ° 28 '2 " N , 3 ° 0' 23" E | ||
The Coll de la Maçana is a 981.3 meter high pass crossing in the eastern Pyrenees that connects northern Catalonia with French Roussillon .
location
The Coll de la Maçana, also Coll de la Font de la Maçana , is located in the Albères , between the municipal areas of Espolla in Alt Empordà and Argelès-sur-Mer in Roussillon. It separates the south-west corner of the municipality of Argelès-sur-Mer from the north of the municipality of Espolla. A hundred meters north of the top of the pass on the side facing France is the source of Font de la Maçana , where the Massane river rises and then flows off towards Argelès-sur-Mer.
The top of the pass is relatively easy to cross, especially from the north side. It is one of the most commonly used border crossings for excursion routes.
history
The Coll de la Maçana has been used to cross the Eastern Pyrenees since ancient times . In 1285, during the Aragonese Crusade, the French troops under Philip III crossed here . the top of the pass, to then invade Northern Catalonia and against Peter III. proceed. They used the Coll de la Maçana because the neighboring pass of Le Perthus (or earlier also Panissars ) was closely guarded. According to Ramon Muntaner and Bernat Desclot , the French were brought up on him by monks loyal to the Pope from the monasteries of Alt Empordà. The top of the pass is of great strategic importance because from it the Mediterranean Sea from Cap de Creus to Languedoc can be seen.
literature
- Becat, Joan, Ponsich, Pere and Gual, Raimon: Banyuls de la Marenda . In: El Rosselló i la Fenolleda . Fundació Enciclopèdia Catalana, Barcelona 1985, ISBN 84-85194-59-4 .
- Becat, Joan: 12-Banyuls de la Marenda . In: Atles toponímic de Catalunya Nord. I. Aiguatébia - Montner . Terra Nostra, 2015, ISSN 1243-2032 .
- Tort, Joan (text) and Costa, Ernest (photography): Frontissa pirinenca . In: Descobrir Catalunya . tape 74 , 2004.