Northern Catalonia

Northern Catalonia (Catalan: Catalunya Nord; French: Catalogne Nord or Pays Catalan) is the name mainly used by the Catalan-speaking community to refer the part of the historic Principality of Catalonia that came under French governance through the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 between France and Spain. It is also called French Catalonia.

Mount Canigó from Rivesaltes airport

The territory is roughly equal to the French Département of Pyrénées-Orientales, though a part of this department (Fenolheda) is part of the Occitan-speaking territories. Northern Catalonia includes the traditional comarques of Rosselló (French: Roussillon), Conflent, Vallespir, Capcir and half of Cerdanya (French: Cerdagne).

The administrative capital is the city of Perpignan (Catalan: Perpinyà).

Northern Catalonia is one of the Catalan-speaking territories referred to by some as the Catalan Countries.

French is spoken by the whole population. Catalan is estimated to be spoken by a quarter of the population at the most, and understood at some level by around 40%, but it has no official status.

See also

* Language policy in France
* Roussillon - historical county.

External links

* Flaix FM - Catalan Radio - French Website
* Catalunya-nord.com
* Catalunya del Nord in the Catalan Encyclopaedia.
* Qui som els catalans del nord ("Who are northern Catalonians?") Catalanist writings
* El Petit llibre de Catalunya Nord "The litle book of Northern Catalonia" - Catalanist book about the importance of Northern Catalonia naming.
* Vilaweb Catalunya Nord Catalan news portal.
* Catalan, Occitan and French toponomy in Northern Catalonia
* la clau, Northern catalan Magazine

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