Bourg-Madame is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.

Geography

Localisation

Bourg-Madame is located in the canton of Les Pyrénées catalanes and in the arrondissement of Prades. It lies right on the border with Spain. It abuts directly onto the Spanish town of Puigcerdà, and is near the Spanish exclave of Llívia.

Toponymy

The town used to be known in French as Les Guinguettes, until 1815 when it was renamed Bourg-Madame in honour of the wife of the Duke of Angoulême. The Catalan name for the town is still the traditional one.

History

In the 20th century, Bourg-Madame was the site of a camp housing Republican escapees from Spain at the end of the Spanish Civil War.

Government and politics

Mayors

Transport

Roads

The following major roads lead to Bourg-Madame:

Railways

Bourg-Madame is located at a key point of intersection for railways that link Toulouse, Barcelona, and Valencia (as well as Perpignan to the east via the Yellow Train). The railway station is located in the Arena district.

Population

International relations

The commune is twinned with: