Couiza
Couiza (French pronunciation: [kwiza] ⓘ; Occitan: Coisan) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France. Couiza is a rural commune which has 1,122 inhabitants in 2020. It belongs to the urban unit of Espéraza. Its inhabitants are called Couizanais or Couizanaises.
Couiza | |
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The chateau in Couiza | |
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Coat of arms | |
Location of Couiza | |
Couiza Couiza | |
| Coordinates: 42°56′32″N 2°15′15″E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Aude |
| Arrondissement | Limoux |
| Canton | La Haute-Vallée de l'Aude |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Jacques Hortala |
| Area 1 | 6.77 km2 (2.61 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | 1,127 |
| • Density | 170/km2 (430/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 11103 /11190 |
| Elevation | 218–563 m (715–1,847 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Couiza is located at the foothills of the Pyrenees, on the road between Limoux, going towards Carcassonne and Quillan, going towards Perpignan. Couiza, in the upper valley of the Aude, is at the foot of the hill leading to Rennes-le-Château. Couiza Listen ( Coisan Listen in Occitan ) is a French commune , located in the South-West of the Aude department in the Occitanie region.
Historically and culturally, the commune is part of the Corbières massif, a limestone chaos forming the transition between the Massif Central and the Pyrenees . Exposed to an altered oceanic climate, it is drained by the Aude, the Sals , and the Antugnac stream. The town has a remarkable natural heritage: a Natura 2000 site (the “hautes Corbières”) and two natural areas of ecological, fauna and flora interest.