Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.
It is situated in the Tech valley, and combines the old and the new with a mix of narrow cobbled streets and modern accommodation. It has become a 'station verte' meaning that it must strive at all times to ensure that tourists benefit from a calm and natural environment.
Geography
Location
Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda is located in the canton of Le Canigou and in the arrondissement of Céret. It sits at the confluence of the Mondony with the Tech, SSW of Perpignan by road. The town is situated at a height of and has both a winter and summer season.
thumb|center|300px|Map of Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda and its surrounding communes
Climate
In the winter season the average temperature is about 10 degrees Celsius, and in the summer it is roughly 29 degrees Celsius with the occasional thunderstorm late afternoon.
Springs
The town has numerous sulphur springs (20-60C.). They have been used as baths by those with rheumatism and illnesses of the lungs. By the end of the 19th century there were two bathing establishments, one of which preserved remains of Roman baths, and a large military thermal hospital. In Catalan it is still called Els banys d'Arles.
History
In 1942, the former communes of Amélie-les-Bains and Palalda were merged to form the new commune Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda.
Government and politics
François Mefler, mayor of Amélie-les-Bains since October 1941, became the new mayor of Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda in October 1942, after Amélie-les-Bains and Palalda were united together.
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Mayor
! Term start
! Term end
|-
|François Mefler
|align=center|October 1942
|align=center|August 1944
|-
|Gaudérique Parent
|align=center|August 1944
|align=center|March 1945
|-
|Georges Bosch
|align=center|March 1945
|align=center|December 1950
|-
|Jean Trescases
|align=center|December 1950
|align=center|January 1951
|-
|Gustave Pouzens
|align=center|February 1951
|align=center|February 1952
|-
|Paul Alduy
|align=center|February 1952
|align=center|March 1959
|-
|Jean Aspar
|align=center|March 1959
|align=center|April 1959
|-
|Jacqueline Alduy
|align=center|April 1959
|align=center|March 2001
|-
|Alexandre Reynal
|align=center|March 2001
|align=center|July 2020
|-
|Marie Costa
|align=center|July 2020
|align=center|
|}
Population
Sites of interest
- Fort-les-Bains, fortress built in 1670 above Amélie-les-Bains.
Notable people
- Maximilien Chaudoir (1816–1881), Russian entomologist, died in Amélie-les-Bains;
- Pierre Restany (1930–2003), art critic and philosopher, born in Amélie-les-Bains.
- Jean Trescases, a French military officer was born in Palalda
See also
- Communes of the Pyrénées-Orientales department
References
External links
- Tourist office website