Bélesta, Ariège
Bélesta | |
|---|---|
 The bridge over the Hers-Vif | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
 Location of Bélesta | |
  Bélesta  Bélesta | |
| Coordinates: 42°54′16″N 1°56′06″E / 42.9044°N 1.935°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Ariège |
| Arrondissement | Pamiers |
| Canton | Pays d'Olmes |
| Intercommunality | Pays d'Olmes |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Marcel Girma[1] |
Area 1 | 26.94 km2 (10.40 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | 1,091 |
| • Density | 40.50/km2 (104.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 09047 /09300 |
| Elevation | 475–1,082 m (1,558–3,550 ft) (avg. 494 m or 1,621 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Bélesta (French pronunciation: [belɛsta] ⓘ; Occitan: Belestar) is a commune, situated on the Hers-Vif river in the Ariège department of southwestern France.
History
Situated in the valley of the Hers-Vif, Bélesta is known for its fir tree forest, which was a former royal forest whose wood was used to construct the mast of ships. 1 km upstream from the village is a spring, created by a significant surge of water from the Karst Plateau de Sault.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 1,330 | — |
| 1975 | 1,441 | +1.15% |
| 1982 | 1,386 | −0.55% |
| 1990 | 1,337 | −0.45% |
| 1999 | 1,179 | −1.39% |
| 2007 | 1,105 | −0.81% |
| 2012 | 1,065 | −0.73% |
| 2017 | 1,064 | −0.02% |
| 2023 | 1,091 | +0.42% |
| Source: INSEE[3] | ||
See also
References
- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
- ^ Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023, INSEE
