# Durban-Corbières

> commune in Aude, France

**Wikidata**: [Q631385](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q631385)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durban-Corbières)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/durban-corbi-res

## Summary

Durban-Corbières is a commune located in the Aude department of southern France, situated in the Occitanie region. As part of the canton of Durban-Corbières and the arrondissement of Narbonne, this small municipality sits at coordinates 42.995833°N latitude and 2.816944°E longitude, approximately 42.996°N 2.817°E. The commune operates under the French municipal system and falls within the jurisdiction of the department of Aude, which was established on March 4, 1790.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Durban-Corbières, Aude department, Occitanie region, France
- **Coordinates**: 42.995833°N, 2.816944°E
- **Administrative status**: Commune of France (municipal subdivision established 1789)
- **Canton**: Durban-Corbières
- **Arrondissement**: Narbonne
- **Department**: Aude (established March 4, 1790)
- **Country**: France
- **Region**: Occitanie (South West France)
- **Population**: Approximately 650-690 residents across recorded years (specific figures: 659, 645, 658, 649, 651, 686, 564, 525, 673, 650, 681, 686, 654, 651, 648, 644, 649)
- **Website**: https://mairie-durban-corbieres.fr
- **Wikipedia title**: Durban-Corbières
- **Wikidata description**: commune in Aude, France
- **Sitelink count**: 41

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Durban-Corbières?**

Durban-Corbières is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The French commune system was established in 1789 and serves as the fundamental unit of local government, similar to a municipality or township in other countries.

**Which department and region is Durban-Corbières located in?**

Durban-Corbières is located in the Aude department, which is in the Occitanie region of South West France. The department was created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution. The commune belongs to the arrondissement of Narbonne and the canton of Durban-Corbières.

**What is the geographic location of Durban-Corbières?**

The commune is situated at approximately 42.995833°N latitude and 2.816944°E longitude in the southern France, within the Corbières mountain range region. This area is known for its Mediterranean climate, vineyards, and proximity to the Mediterranean coast.

**What is the population of Durban-Corbières?**

The population of Durban-Corbières has fluctuated between approximately 525 and 686 residents across recorded years, with most recent figures clustering around 650-690 inhabitants. This places it among the smaller rural communes in the Aude department.

**What local services and facilities are available in Durban-Corbières?**

As a French commune, Durban-Corbières provides local municipal services to its residents. The municipal website (mairie-durban-corbieres.fr) serves as the official communication channel for local government information and services.

## Why It Matters

Durban-Corbières represents the foundational unit of French local governance, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes the French Republic. As one of France's approximately 35,000 communes, it participates in the democratic tradition of local self-management that has been a cornerstone of French civic life since the Revolution of 1789. The commune's location in the Aude department places it within a region known for its rich viticultural heritage, historical significance, and strategic position between the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees mountains.

The commune's membership in the canton of Durban-Corbières and its administrative placement within the arrondissement of Narbonne connects it to a network of local governance that serves the broader community. This administrative structure allows for coordinated regional planning, public service delivery, and local representation while maintaining the intimate scale of community governance appropriate to a smaller population center.

## Notable For

- **Part of the Corbières wine region**: The commune is situated in the renowned Corbières AOC wine-producing area, one of the largest wine regions in southern France known for its robust red wines and Mediterranean terroir
- **Historical administrative continuity**: Part of the Aude department established during the foundational period of modern French administration in 1790
- **Local governance representation**: Serves as the administrative center for the canton of Durban-Corbières, indicating its regional importance within the local administrative structure

## Body

### Geography and Location

Durban-Corbières is positioned at coordinates 42.995833°N latitude and 2.816944°E longitude, placing it in the southern portion of the Aude department within the Occitanie region. The commune lies in the Corbières foothills, a transitional zone between the Mediterranean coastal plain and the Pyrenean mountain range. This geographic positioning grants the area a distinct Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters—conditions particularly favorable to viticulture and olive cultivation.

The commune's location within the arrondissement of Narbonne connects it to one of the principal urban centers of the Aude department. Narbonne, historically significant as a Roman colony and later as a medieval ecclesiastical capital, serves as the administrative and economic hub for the surrounding rural communes, including Durban-Corbières.

### Administrative Structure

Durban-Corbières operates as a commune, which represents the lowest level of territorial administration in France. The French commune system traces its origins to the revolutionary period of 1789, when the National Constituent Assembly abolished the old parish system and established communes as the fundamental units of local government. This system has endured through multiple regime changes, including the First French Empire (proclaimed 1804), the restoration of the monarchy, and the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958.

The commune is part of the canton of Durban-Corbières, an electoral district that elects representatives to the General Council of Aude. The canton system serves as an intermediate level of administrative organization between the commune and the department. Durban-Corbières also falls within the arrondissement of Narbonne, which is one of the five arrondissements in the Aude department and serves as a sub-prefectural jurisdiction for administrative coordination.

The Aude department itself was established on March 4, 1790, during the early months of the French Revolution, as part of the reorganization of France's provincial structure. The department takes its name from the Aude River, which flows through the region from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean. Today, Aude is part of the larger Occitanie region, created in 2016 through the merger of the former Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées regions.

### Demographics and Population

The population of Durban-Corbières has demonstrated relative stability across recorded years, with figures ranging from approximately 525 to 686 residents. The population figures provided (659, 645, 658, 649, 651, 686, 564, 525, 673, 650, 681, 686, 654, 651, 648, 644, 649) likely represent annual census data spanning multiple years, showing natural population fluctuations typical of small rural communes.

This population size places Durban-Corbières firmly within the category of small rural communes that characterize much of the French interior. Such communes often face challenges related to demographic decline, aging populations, and the concentration of younger residents in urban centers. However, they also preserve traditional community structures, local cultural practices, and agricultural heritage that contribute to the social fabric of the region.

### Local Government and Services

The municipal government of Durban-Corbières operates through the mayor and municipal council, the standard governance structure for French communes. The official municipal website (mairie-durban-corbieres.fr) provides information about local services, administrative procedures, community events, and municipal decisions.

As the administrative center for the canton of Durban-Corbières, the commune likely hosts certain regional services and serves as a point of contact for residents of surrounding smaller communes for various administrative matters. This function reinforces the commune's role as a local service center within the broader regional network.

### Regional Context: Aude Department

The Aude department encompasses a diverse landscape ranging from the Mediterranean coastline to the mountainous interior of the Corbières and Pyrenees. The department's capital, Carcassonne, is famous for its medieval fortified city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that exemplifies the region's rich historical heritage. Other significant towns include Narbonne, known for its Roman monuments and cathedral, and Limoux, famous for its sparkling wine production.

The department's economy relies heavily on agriculture, particularly viticulture, with the Corbières and Minervois AOC wine regions being major contributors. Tourism also plays a significant role, driven by the cultural heritage of Carcassonne, the Mediterranean coastline, and the outdoor recreational opportunities in the mountainous interior.

### Historical Background

The territory of modern-day Durban-Corbières has been inhabited since antiquity, as evidenced by archaeological finds throughout the Aude region. The area passed through various historical periods including Roman occupation (Gallo-Roman period), the Visigothic kingdom, the Carolingian Empire, and the feudal period of the Middle Ages.

The commune's name "Durban-Corbières" reflects its historical roots, with "Durban" potentially deriving from the Latin "Durbanus" or a Celtic toponym, while "Corbières" refers to the surrounding Corbières mountain range. The region was historically part of the County of Carcassonne and later the Kingdom of Majorca before becoming integrated into the French royal domain.

### Connection to France

As a commune of France, Durban-Corbières participates in the political, administrative, and cultural systems of the French Republic. France operates as a semi-presidential republic with a unitary state structure, organized into regions, departments, arrondissements, cantons, and communes. This hierarchical system ensures national coherence while allowing for local adaptation and governance.

The commune falls under the jurisdiction of the French legal system, uses the Euro as currency, and participates in national elections. The official language is French, and the commune adheres to French administrative standards including the metric system, right-hand traffic, and European Union regulations where applicable.

France's broader context as a founding member of the European Union, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and a nuclear-armed state provides the national framework within which Durban-Corbières and other French communes operate. The country's values of "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (liberty, equality, fraternity) underpin the local governance philosophy that empowers communes to manage their affairs within the national legal framework.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
5. répertoire géographique des communes
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Annuaire de service-public.fr
8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
9. Populations légales 2016
10. Populations légales 2017
11. Populations légales 2018
12. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
13. Populations légales 2019
14. Populations légales 2020
15. Populations légales 2021
16. Populations de référence 2022
17. Populations de référence 2023
18. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
20. GeoNames
21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
22. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c)
24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)