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CATALAN CULTURE AND
IDENTITY
 Located on the north of the department of Pyrénées Orientales, the Capcir
Plateau is the highest cultivated plain in Europe. Facing north an south, this
plateau is a geographical area where the climate differs from other
neighbouring valleys and plateau.Geography and history have conditioned the spirit and character of people strongly attached to their identity and to the Cataln Pyrenees. The highlight of the upper valley of the Aude, the plateau is dominated by the majestic peaks of Pérics (2820m) and Madras. Located on the ancient route of the Via Francisca Superior Alet linking Llivia, Capcir represented in a zone bordering on two former counties, Cerdagne and Carcasonne, but also between two countries, France and Spain until the Treaty of the Pyrénees in 1659. The country formerly attached to Pagus Reddensis then to the Visigoth kingdom of Toulouse and Cerdagne county, it cannot be dissociated from Catalan melting pot, although fron 1318 this land will be part of the Diocese of Alet Occitan until 1790.
The village of Les
Angles, whose first mention dates back to the year 966, is built on the
foothills of the Massif llaret, is the highest plateau (1655m). It is set up
around its ancient "Mansus" which became "Castrum" under
Alfonso II of Aragon. Property of Lord Abbot of Saint Michel de Cuixà from XII
to XVII century, the village has managed to develop through the forestry,
agriculture and farming activity until 1964 when the economic activity
gradually changed towards a tourist economy and winter sports.
The population fighting for centuries
against the weather and working primarily with two seasons has kept its
Pyrenean particularism, language and Catalan identity.
The language with warm notes and the specific sounds of local music, the swinging colors, the harmonious traditional costumes and the smell of the gastronomy come flirting with the quiet thousand tear old forest, cowbells herds, clean air and fragant meadows and the warm light of this corner of paradise.
Open museum with the
Romanesque architecture, Baroque villages, you may be surprised by a parade of
the Giants or a pocession like the old day. May be you will let yourself be
captivated by the sweet scent of a "chocolatade" or an
"ouillade" unless the scent of cured and salted hams awaken your
senses.
This
is the Catalan mountain. An enchanting place where the tradition, the culture deal
with the modernity of our mountain resort all the year round.
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