Perpignan is a town in the south of France, prefecture of the
Pyrénées-Orientales department and the fourth most populous city in
the Occitanie region. Former continental capital of the Kingdom of
Mallorca, the city was annexed by the Kingdom of France in 1659.
According to INSEE, its intramural municipal population was
120,158 Perpignanais in 2017 (30th nationally). Its urban area has a
concentration of 323,388 inhabitants.
Republic Square
Place de la République is a square
located in Perpignan, the capital of the Pyrénées-Orientales. The
square is located in the hypercentre of the town of Perpignan, in
the Saint-Jean district.
Coronell d'En Vila in the Middle
Ages, Liberty Square in 1799, Napoleon Square under the First Empire
and Royal Square under the Restoration. It was not until the end of
the 19th century that it took the name of Place de la République.
During the Middle Ages, the square was located in the ramparts
of Perpignan and hosted a market.
It received the tombs of
Generals Dagobert and Dugommier, heroes of the 1793 war against
Spain, where they remained there until 1826. Under the First Empire
the city hosted another market and regained its primary function.
The 100,000 overcoats, the oldest sign in the city, settled
there and in 1888 a large Baltard-style hall had it built there to
house this market.
Campo Santo in Perpignan
The Campo
Santo is a building located in the city of Perpignan, in the
Pyrénées-Orientales in the Occitanie region. It is the oldest and
largest surviving medieval cemetery in France.
Castillet
Le Castillet or Castellet (in Catalan) is a monument of the city of
Perpignan which was in turn the city's gate and state prison. Today
it houses the Catalan Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions (La Casa
Pairal). It was also called at certain times Baluard or Bastilla.
Cathedral Saint-Jean-Baptiste of Perpignan
The
Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Perpignan Cathedral is a 14th-century
Gothic-style Catholic cathedral located in the city of Perpignan in
France. Collegiate at the time of its construction, it replaces the
Romanesque building, known as Saint-Jean-le-Vieux, which
nevertheless remains today, on its northern flank. It became a
cathedral in 1602, when the episcopal seat of the diocese of
Perpignan-Elne was transferred from Elne.
The cathedral is
part of an urban religious ensemble comprising: Campo Santo
cloister-cemetery, Saint-Jean-le-Vieux church, Saint-Jean-Baptiste
cathedral (known as Saint-Jean-le-Neuf), Saint-Jean-le-Neuf
-Jean-the Evangelist known as of the Funeral, the chapel of the
Devout-Christ, the former episcopal palace and the building known as
the Syndicate. It also included the Saint-Jean hospital and the
presbytery, demolished.
Church of Réal
The Eglise de
la Réal or Notre-Dame de la Réal is a Catholic church located in
Perpignan, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. The Réal church is located in
the street of the same name, which connects the middle of Petite la
Réal and Grande la Réal streets. It gave its name to the La Réal
district. The church has a length of 61 meters and a width of 22
meters. The plan is that of a single nave divided into eight bays.
On the sides of the chapels were arranged between the buttresses.
The church is oriented west-north-west / east-south-east.
Sea lodge
La Loge de Mer in Perpignan is a
Catalan Gothic-style civil building built from the end of the
fourteenth century and completed in the sixteenth century. During
the Middle Ages, the Place de la Loge was the civic center of the
city, and combined the various local powers: commercial court (Sea
Consulate), municipal power (Consulate: town hall), and local
deputation of the Generalitat: palace of the deputation.
Le Castillet
Le Castillet cinema is a cinema room
located in Perpignan, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. The cinema is
located since its creation at 1 boulevard Wilson (Perpignan).
Pams Hotel
The former Pams hotel is a private mansion
located in Perpignan in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. The
building is located at 18 rue Émile-Zola (former rue Saint-Sauveur)
in Perpignan in the Historic Center district.
The house was
bought by Pierre Bardou in 1852, promoter of JOB cigarette paper, a
brand founded in 1849 by his father Jean Bardou. In 1872, adjoining
plots were acquired and the owner built his first glass factory.
This one, of metallic architecture opens onto a garden courtyard.
In February 1892, Pierre Bardou died. Her daughter Jeanne and
her husband Jules Pams, thanks to the family fortune, transformed
the place from 1896 to 1902 into a sumptuous mansion designed by the
architect Léopold Carlier.
Two years after the death of his
wife Jeanne in 1916, Jules Pams remarried Marguerite Holtzer and
died in 1930.
The hotel will be sold in 1946 to the city of
Perpignan.
The old hotel was partially classified as
historical monuments in 1989 and partially registered in 2017.
Early History: Prehistoric and Roman Periods
The area around
Perpignan has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with evidence of
human settlement dating back millennia. During the Roman era, the region
was part of Septimania, a historical area in southern France that
included parts of what is now Languedoc and Roussillon. Roman influence
is evident in archaeological remains, though Perpignan itself as a
distinct town emerged later.
Medieval Foundations (10th–12th
Centuries)
The medieval town of Perpignan was established around the
early 10th century, becoming the capital of the County of Roussillon
soon after. The city's name first appears in historical records in 927
as Perpinianum, evolving through forms like Villa Perpiniano in 959,
Pirpinianum in the 11th century, and Perpiniani in 1176. By the 13th
century, Perpenyà became common, persisting into the 17th century,
likely derived from the Roman name Perpennius. In 1172, Count Girard II
of Roussillon bequeathed his lands to the Counts of Barcelona,
integrating Perpignan into the Catalan-Aragonese sphere. The city gained
partial self-governance with the establishment of communal institutions
in 1197. French claims over Roussillon were relinquished by King Louis
IX in the Treaty of Corbeil in 1258, solidifying Aragonese control.
The Golden Age: Kingdom of Majorca (13th–14th Centuries)
Perpignan's historical peak came in 1276 when James I the Conqueror,
King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona, established the Kingdom of
Majorca. The city served as the capital of the kingdom's mainland
territories, fostering economic prosperity through industries like cloth
manufacturing, leatherwork, goldsmithery, and luxury crafts. This era
saw the construction of significant landmarks, including the Palace of
the Kings of Majorca (Palais des Rois de Majorque), a fortified Gothic
palace that symbolized the city's importance. A notable event was the
death of King Philippe III of France in Perpignan in 1285, following his
failed Aragonese Crusade. The city's Catalan cultural influences
deepened during this time, blending Mediterranean trade and artistry.
Annexation, Plague, and Instability (1340s–15th Century)
In 1344,
Peter IV of Aragon annexed the Kingdom of Majorca, incorporating
Perpignan back into the Principality of Catalonia. Shortly after, the
Black Death ravaged the city in the late 1340s, halving its population
and causing widespread economic disruption. The 15th century brought
further turmoil with French incursions. In 1463, King Louis XI of France
attacked and occupied Perpignan amid conflicts over Roussillon. A
violent Catalan uprising in 1473 against French rule led to a prolonged
siege, which was brutally suppressed. However, in 1493, Charles VIII of
France restored the city to Ferdinand II of Aragon to secure alliances
for his Italian campaigns. This period highlighted Perpignan's strategic
border position, often caught between French and Spanish ambitions.
Transition to French Rule (17th Century)
The 17th century marked
Perpignan's permanent shift to French control during the Thirty Years'
War. In September 1642, French forces besieged and captured the city in
the Siege of Perpignan. Spain formally ceded Roussillon, including
Perpignan, to France in the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, redrawing
the Franco-Spanish border and ending centuries of Aragonese-Catalan
dominance. Under Louis XIV, the city was fortified by Vauban, with
additions like the Citadel enhancing its defenses. This era began
Perpignan's integration into French administration, though Catalan
language and customs persisted.
Modern Era: 18th Century to
Present
From the 18th century onward, Perpignan remained under French
rule through successive regimes, including the French Republic
(1792–1804), Napoleonic Empire (1804–1815), Bourbon Restoration
(1815–1848), Second Republic (1848–1852), Second Empire (1852–1870),
Third Republic (1870–1940), Vichy Regime (1940–1944), and the post-war
Fourth and Fifth Republics (1944–present). The city played roles in
revolutionary upheavals, including the French Revolution, where it saw
Jacobin influences and economic shifts toward agriculture and wine
production. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Perpignan grew as a regional
hub, benefiting from railway connections and immigration, particularly
from Spain during the Civil War era. During World War II, it was under
Vichy control before liberation in 1944. Post-war, the city modernized,
emphasizing tourism, Catalan heritage, and its role as the prefecture of
Pyrénées-Orientales. Culturally, Perpignan retains strong Catalan ties,
with festivals like the Sant Jordi celebrations and bilingual signage.
In recent politics, June 2020 saw Louis Aliot of the National Rally
elected mayor, the first far-right victory in a city of over 100,000
since 1995, reflecting shifting demographics and national trends. Today,
Perpignan blends its rich historical legacy with contemporary life,
featuring landmarks like the Castillet gate, Cathedral of St. John the
Baptist, and the aforementioned Palace of the Kings of Majorca, all
testifying to its layered past.