Montfa (Ariège)

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Montfa
Montfan
Montfa (France)
Montfa
region Occitania
Department Ariège
Arrondissement Saint-Girons
Canton Arize-Lèze
Community association Arize Lèze
Coordinates 43 ° 6 ′  N , 1 ° 17 ′  E Coordinates: 43 ° 6 ′  N , 1 ° 17 ′  E
height 313-551 m
surface 8.54 km 2
Residents 82 (January 1, 2017)
Population density 10 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code 09350
INSEE code 09205

Montfa ( Occitan Montfan ) is a French commune with 82 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Ariège department in the Occitania region (previously Midi-Pyrénées ); it belongs to the arrondissement of Saint-Girons and the canton of Arize-Lèze .

location

Montfa is located in the north of the Ariège department. The closest city is Pamiers , about 27 kilometers (as the crow flies) to the east ; the city of Toulouse is just under 70 kilometers to the north. The municipality is part of the Massif du Plantaurel and lies within the Pyrénées Ariégeoises Regional Natural Park .

The community consists of the hamlets (hameaux) Berdot, Castillane, Durrieux, Raynaude and Traouquès as well as individual farms.

history

The Dolmen of Cabane de Roland (in Le Pas de Coumenge) is evidence of settlement since the early days. The place is first mentioned in a document from 1247. A (lost) castle near Le Picou is listed as the property of the Counts of Foix in 1263. In the Middle Ages, the place belonged to the County of Foix . It was administered by the noble family Foix-Rabat from the Kastlanei Le Mas-d'Asil. Despite its remote location, Montfa was ravaged by Huguenots during the Wars of Religion in 1568. The community belonged to the Mirepoix-Pamiers district from 1793 to 1801. In addition, from 1793 to 2015 it was part of the canton of Le Mas d'Azil (1793-1801) under the name of Canton Mas d'Azis .

Population development

year 1793 1800 1821 1831 1851 1856 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2006 2012
Residents 333 306 380 330 423 420 86 66 64 64 62 72 77 80
Sources: Cassini and INSEE

economy

In the 19th century the place had over 400 inhabitants at times. Traditionally, people lived from the chestnut plantations. When these were almost completely destroyed by an illness, many people moved to other communities because of the lack of livelihood. The increasing mechanization of agriculture also led to a continuous decrease in the number of inhabitants to the lows of recent times. The few residents still live from agriculture today.

Attractions

  • Dolmen of Cabane de Roland (in Le Pas de Coumenge)
  • Saint-Fiacre village church (partly from the 14th century, partly new construction due to a lightning strike in 1935)
  • Remains of a donjon

Web links

Commons : Montfa  - collection of images, videos and audio files