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Catalonia (Pyrénées-Orientales, Département
66, Pays Catalan) is a Mediterranean, Pyrénéen
and European region, annexed by the French Kingdom in 1659 by
the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrénées. Isolated
from the rest of Catalonia, slowly integrated into French territory,
the region of North Catalonia today possesses a rich history,
a language, a culture and a spirit of the land. At the dawn
of the 3rd millennium and at the hour of Europe, its Spanish
vitality is not a contradiction and its aspirations are numerous.
Famous for its sun, landscape and its traditions, North Catalonia
possesses wealth to share, and it particularly attracts attention
to the areas of aestheticism, leisure, culture, heritage and
identity.
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The
North Catalan lands extend over 4116km2, framed in the north
by the Languedoc, in the south by the natural continuity with
the rest of Catalonia. This territory is harmoniously composed
of areas of plains, a coastline of sand and pebbles, of ponds
and of mountains of medium and high altitudes. The very tall
Pic Carlit culminates at 2921m and the famous Mount Canigó
reaches 2784m. This diversity makes North Catalonia a naturally
auspicious region for an economy that was once diverse and is
now primarily agricultural and tourism based. This region attracts
visitors from all over the world, and many choose to establish
themselves here year round. After a wave of new populations
coming from the north of France, the current wave of new residents
come from northern Europe, many who have chosen the latitudes
and the pace of life here. This group of inhabitants forms the
‘new Catalans.’ The permanent residents of the region numbered
422 000 in 2007 – 500 000 is the predicted figure for the year
2020 (Source INSEE). In the summer period one million inhabitants
people North Catalonia. Its capital, Perpinyà, is situated
12km from the sea, 191km from Barcelona and 911km from Paris.
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