Auzat
Auzat (Languedocien: "Ausat") is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as "Auzatois" or "Auzatoises". The commune has been awarded one flower by the "National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom" in the "Competition of cities and villages in Bloom". Geography. Auzat is located some 45 km south by south-west of Pamiers and 40 km north by north-west of Andorra la Vella. Its south-western border is the border between France and Spain and its south-eastern border is the border between  France and Andorra. Access to the commune is by road D8 which branches from the D18 at Vicdessos and goes to the village then continues south to access the dam at Etang de Soulcem. Due to the extremely rugged terrain there is no access to Spain or Andorra from the commune. Its highest point is the Pica d'Estats (3143 m), which is located in the Montcalm Massif, exactly on the Spanish border. Many streams rise in the south of the commune and flow north in two parallel main streams - the "Ruisseau de la Coume de Subra" and the "Ruisseau de  Mounicou". The "Ruisseau de la Coume de Subra" joins the "Ruisseau de l'Artigue" flowing east to join the "Ruisseau de Mounicou" which continues north to the village where it becomes the "Ruisseau de Vicdessos" then continues east to join the Ariège at Tarascon-sur-Ariège. There are also many lakes in the south of the commune with the Etang de Soulcem being the largest. Environment. The commune has a rich environment in terms of Wilderness and ecological potential but industrialization has left traces: in particular the disused Pechiney Aluminium Smelter (closed in 2003) left heavy environmental consequences. The smelter was  ranked 2 under Directive 96/82/EC (Seveso). The plant had an internal landfill site of 1.8 hectares located several kilometres from the smelter site at a place called "Massada" on the border with Vicdessos commune. This discharge area, as well as the groundwater and soil that supported the plant operations, are polluted by various pollutants including fluorides, cyanides, hydrocarbons, arsenic, aluminium, and barium. Administration. List of Successive Mayors Twinning. Since 2003, the Auzat valley and Vicdessos have developed special links with Italy, especially with the Veneto and Friuli regions which were the origins of the victims of the Izourt Dam  disaster in Auzat that had resulted in the deaths of 29 Italians and 3 Frenchmen on 24 March 1939. The Ricordate Association, with the support of elected officials, regularly organizes events and commemorations for the victims' families to honour their dead and to better understand the circumstances of the accident. Demography. In 2017 the commune had 488 inhabitants. Culture and heritage. Religious heritage. The commune has several religious buildings: