Bethmale
Bethmale | |
|---|---|
 The church in Bethmale | |
Location of Bethmale | |
  Bethmale Location within France  Bethmale Location within Occitanie | |
| Coordinates: 42°53′24″N 1°03′29″E / 42.89°N 1.0581°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Ariège |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Girons |
| Canton | Couserans Ouest |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Sylvie Domenc[1] |
Area 1 | 31.61 km2 (12.20 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | 108 |
| • Density | 3.42/km2 (8.85/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 09055 /09800 |
| Elevation | 638–2,838 m (2,093–9,311 ft) (avg. 750 m or 2,460 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Bethmale (French pronunciation: [bɛtmal]; Occitan: Vathmala) is a commune in the Ariège department of southwestern France.
Name
The name is of Gascon origin: "Beth" (beautiful) and "Malh" (mountain, mountain side).[3]
Organization
The valley contains six villages in two communes:
- Commune de Bethmale
- Ayet
- Samortein
- Commune d'Arrien-en-Bethmale
- Aret
- Arrien
- Tournac
- Villargein
Located in the former province of Couserans, it is well known for its local culture, and for a cheese they produce, a semi-hard cow's milk cheese traditionally made from raw milk.[4]
History
The valley is characterized by a strong sense of local identity, expressed in the traditional costumes of the area, which includes the famous Bethmale clogs.[5]
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 187 | — |
| 1975 | 149 | −3.19% |
| 1982 | 96 | −6.09% |
| 1990 | 96 | +0.00% |
| 1999 | 83 | −1.60% |
| 2007 | 95 | +1.70% |
| 2012 | 98 | +0.62% |
| 2017 | 95 | −0.62% |
| 2023 | 108 | +2.16% |
| Source: INSEE[6] | ||
Inhabitants of Bethmale are called Bethmalais in French.
See also
References
- ↑ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
- ↑ "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
- ↑ Lespy, Vastin; Raymond, Paul (1998). Dictionnaire béarnais, ancien et moderne (in French). Marrimpouey. p. 385.
- ↑ "Bethmale: French Pyrénées's Most Famous Cheese". Cheese Atlas. 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ↑ "The wonders of wood: Discovering rare French craftsmanship". France24. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ↑ Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023, INSEE
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