# Argein

Argein (French pronunciation:; Occitan: Argenh) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.

## Geography

Argein is located some 12 km south-west of Saint-Girons just a kilometre west of Audressein. Access to the commune is by the D618 road from Audressein in the east passing through the centre of the commune and the village and continuing west to Aucazein. Apart from the village there is also the hamlet of Viellot. The centre of the commune is the valley of the Bouigane oriented east–west where the village lies. In the valley there is some farmland however the rugged north and south of the commune is heavily forested.
The Buouigane river flows along the central valley east to join the Léz at Audressein. Some tributaries rise in the commune to join the Bouigane including the Ruisseau d'Auriech and the Ruisseau de Sol.

### Neighbouring communes and villages

vtePlaces adjacent to Argein :
Villeneuve
Balaguères
Arrout
Aucazein
Argein
Audressein
Antras
Bonac-Irazein
Salsein :

## Administration

List of Successive Mayors
| From | To | Name |
| 1791 | 1792 | Jacques Bataille |
| 1792 | 1796 | Jacques Fourment |
| 1796 | 1802 | Jean Doumenc |
| 1802 | 1811 | Jean Argela |
| 1811 | 1813 | Jean Doumenc |
| 1813 | 1830 | Jean Argela |
| 1830 | 1837 | Jean Bourdeau |
| 1837 | 1847 | Bernard Doumenc |
| 1847 | 1857 | Gaudens de Meritens de Roses |
| 1857 | 1870 | André Tap |
| 1870 | 1899 | Jean-Pierre Ille |
| 1899 | 1904 | Jean Ferre |
| 1904 | 1915 | Pierre Pujol |
| 1915 | 1919 | François Bauby |
| 1919 | 1929 | Michel Ferre |

### Mayors from 1929

| From | To | Name |
| 1929 | 1945 | François Dedieu |
| 1945 | 1965 | Guillaume Ortet |
| 1965 | 1971 | Jean Delbert |
| 1971 | 1977 | François Bauby |
| 1977 | 2001 | Guy Dubuc |
| 2001 | 2012 | Raymond Junca |
| 2012 | 2026 | Denis Lourde |

## Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Argenois or Argenoises in French.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1793 | 632 | — |
| 1800 | 385 | −6.84% |
| 1806 | 632 | +8.61% |
| 1821 | 636 | +0.04% |
| 1831 | 674 | +0.58% |
| 1836 | 779 | +2.94% |
| 1841 | 846 | +1.66% |
| 1846 | 881 | +0.81% |
| 1851 | 837 | −1.02% |
| 1856 | 762 | −1.86% |
| 1861 | 736 | −0.69% |
| 1866 | 767 | +0.83% |
| 1872 | 784 | +0.37% |
| 1876 | 657 | −4.32% |
| 1881 | 624 | −1.03% |
| 1886 | 634 | +0.32% |
| 1891 | 638 | +0.13% |
| 1896 | 626 | −0.38% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1901 | 583 | −1.41% |
| 1906 | 539 | −1.56% |
| 1911 | 515 | −0.91% |
| 1921 | 380 | −2.99% |
| 1926 | 373 | −0.37% |
| 1931 | 335 | −2.13% |
| 1936 | 342 | +0.41% |
| 1946 | 271 | −2.30% |
| 1954 | 262 | −0.42% |
| 1962 | 235 | −1.35% |
| 1968 | 214 | −1.55% |
| 1975 | 211 | −0.20% |
| 1982 | 193 | −1.27% |
| 1990 | 164 | −2.01% |
| 1999 | 149 | −1.06% |
| 2007 | 162 | +1.05% |
| 2012 | 186 | +2.80% |
| 2017 | 194 | +0.85% |
Source: EHESS and INSEE :

## Sites and Monuments

The Parish Church of Saint Peter is an old Romanesque church from the 12th century and now an integral part of a church originally built in the 9th century. The original semicircular Apse forms the south aisle of the present building. There is an altar bearing a very ancient inscription (prior to the 4th century) depicted again in the south wall of the church. The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
* 2 Altar Candlesticks (17th century)
* 2 Collection Plates (16th century)
* A Thurible (17th century)
* A Ciborium (1638)
* A Chalice (17th century)
* A Chalice with Paten (16th century)
* A Statue: Saint Peter (18th century)
* A Tabernacle (18th century)
* An Altar, Retable, and Altar Dais (18th century)
* A Monumental Painting on the southern exterior facade and interior walls (17th century)

## Notable people linked to the commune

* Honoré Laffont, born 6 October 1901 at Argein and died on 14 February 1975. An international Rugby player (1st time in 1926 against Wales). He was twice a finalist in the championship of France with RC Narbonne (1932 and 1933). He played scrum half (1.65m, 62 kg). He was also coach for RC Narbonne.