Ayguatébia-Talau (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.Commune d'Ayguatébia-Talau (66010), INSEE
Geography Location Ayguatébia-Talau is located in the canton of Les Pyrénées catalanes and in the arrondissement of Prades.
Toponymy Attested forms The name of Ayguatébia appears in 958 as Aqua tebeda, immediately followed in 959 by Aquatepida. Villa Aque tepida is used during the 11th century and Aiguetevia is found in 1392. From the 17th century and on, the common forms are Aiguetebia and Ayguatebia. The modern spelling in Catalan is Aiguatèbia, but the traditional spelling, Ayguatèbia, should be preferred. Lluís Basseda, Toponymie historique de Catalunya Nord, t. 1, Prades, Revista Terra Nostra, 1990
The name of Talau appears in 874 as Villa Talatio and in 876 as Talacho. Talazo, Talaz and Talaxo are used during the 10th century. Talau appears in the 13th century and is used since.
Etymology The name of Ayguatébia comes from the Latin aqua tepida, meaning lukewarm water, in relation with warm springs found in Ayguatébia.
The name of Talau comes from a pre-Latin radical, Tal or Tala, meaning a small plateau found above a cliff or a hill, which corresponds to the situation of the village of Talau, located above the valley of the Cabrils river.
History The commune Ayguatébia-Talau was created on January 1, 1983, by uniting the former communes of Ayguatébia and Talau.
Government and politics
Mayors Mayor Term start Term endLucien Mitjaville19832011Marc Rousset20112012Lucien Mitjaville20122014Georges Vicens2014
Population
Architecture Saint-Felix and Saint-Armengol church in Ayguatébia Saint-Stephen church in Talau Saint-Michael of the Plans church
Notable people Saint Ermengol (?–1035) was possibly born in Ayguatébia.
See also Communes of the Pyrénées-Orientales department
References
External links IGN