# Pech-Luna

> commune in Aude, France

**Wikidata**: [Q34951](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34951)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pech-Luna)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pech-luna

## Summary

Pech-Luna is a commune located in the Aude department of southern France, situated in the historical region of Occitanie. As part of the canton of Belpech and the arrondissement of Carcassonne, this small municipality represents one of the thousands of communal territories that form the administrative fabric of the French Republic.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Pech-Luna is positioned at coordinates 43.216666666667°N latitude and 1.8427777777778°E longitude
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the canton of Belpech in the arrondissement of Carcassonne
- **Department**: Aude, located in South West France (department established March 4, 1790)
- **Country**: France
- **Commune Status**: Officially recognized as a commune of France since 1789
- **Population History**: 101, 84, 78, 75, 75, 114, 99, 112, 93, 80, 101, 100, 74, 75, 75, 76, 76 (various census years)
- **Wikipedia Title**: Pech-Luna
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Aude, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 42

## FAQs

**What region is Pech-Luna located in?**

Pech-Luna is situated in the Aude department, which is located in South West France within the Occitanie region. The commune falls under the canton of Belpech and the arrondissement of Carcassonne.

**What type of administrative area is Pech-Luna?**

Pech-Luna is classified as a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The French commune system dates back to 1789 and serves as the fundamental unit of local administration throughout the country.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Pech-Luna?**

Pech-Luna is located at latitude 43.216666666667°N and longitude 1.8427777777778°E, placing it in the southern part of France near the Mediterranean coast.

**How does Pech-Luna connect to other French administrative units?**

Pech-Luna is part of a hierarchical administrative structure: it is a commune within the canton of Belpech, which is itself part of the arrondissement of Carcassonne, all within the department of Aude, which is located in the country of France.

## Why It Matters

Pech-Luna represents the granular administrative structure that defines local governance in France. While small in population, communes like Pech-Luna form the foundational building blocks of French territorial organization, providing essential services, maintaining local records, and representing citizens at the most immediate level of government. The French commune system, established during the French Revolution in 1789, embodies the principle of decentralized administration that characterizes the French Republic. Understanding entities like Pech-Luna provides insight into how France manages its approximately 35,000 communes, each playing a role in the country's overall administrative, political, and social framework.

## Notable For

- **Administrative Heritage**: Part of one of the oldest continuous systems of local government in Europe, dating back to 1789
- **Departmental History**: Located in Aude, a department established during the initial French Revolutionary administrative reorganization of 1790
- **Regional Identity**: Situated in South West France (Occitanie), a region known for its Mediterranean climate, viticulture, and cultural distinctiveness

## Body

### Geography and Location

Pech-Luna is geographically positioned at coordinates 43.216666666667°N latitude and 1.8427777777778°E longitude. This location places the commune in the southern portion of France, within the Mediterranean climate zone characteristic of the Aude department. The commune's positioning in the Arrondissement of Carcassonne places it within reasonable proximity to the historic fortified city of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its medieval fortifications.

### Administrative Structure

Pech-Luna operates within France's multi-tiered administrative system. At the most local level, it functions as a commune—the fundamental territorial collectivity in France. This commune is part of the canton of Belpech, which serves as a constituency for the election of representatives to the General Council of Aude. At the intermediate level, Pech-Luna belongs to the arrondissement of Carcassonne, which coordinates departmental services across a cluster of communes. Finally, at the highest administrative tier relevant to this entry, the commune falls within the department of Aude.

### Historical Context

The Aude department was officially established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution's comprehensive reorganization of territorial administration. This date marks the beginning of the modern departmental system that replaced the previous provincial divisions of the Ancien Régime. The commune of Pech-Luna, as part of the French commune system, traces its institutional origins to 1789, when the National Constituent Assembly abolished the feudal system and created the municipality as a new unit of local administration.

### Population and Demographics

While specific population figures are provided as a series of values (101, 84, 78, 75, 75, 114, 99, 112, 93, 80, 101, 100, 74, 75, 75, 76, 76) representing various census years, these numbers indicate that Pech-Luna has maintained a small but relatively stable population typical of rural communes in the Aude department. The population figures suggest modest fluctuations over time, reflecting broader demographic trends in rural southern France, including periods of population decline followed by stabilization or slight growth.

### Relationship to Connected Entities

Pech-Luna exists within a network of administrative and geographical relationships. It is connected to the canton of Belpech as a constituent commune, to the department of Aude as its territorial jurisdiction, and to the arrondissement of Carcassonne as its administrative center. At the national level, it is part of France, the country that encompasses all French communes. The commune classification itself represents a specifically French concept of territorial organization, distinct from municipal structures in other countries, and carries legal personality and autonomy within the framework of French law.

### Cultural and Regional Context

The Aude department, where Pech-Luna is located, forms part of the Occitanie region in South West France. This region is celebrated for its diverse landscapes ranging from the Mediterranean coastline to the Pyrenean foothills, its rich viticultural heritage producing wines including Corbières, Minervois, and Fitou, and its cultural traditions including the Occitan language and customs. The department takes its name from the Aude River, which flows through the region from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean. The presence of Carcassonne as the administrative center provides the area with a significant historical and tourist landmark, while the broader region maintains connections to both French and Mediterranean cultural spheres.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. répertoire géographique des communes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Annuaire de service-public.fr
7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
8. Populations légales 2016
9. Populations légales 2017
10. Populations légales 2018
11. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
12. Populations légales 2019
13. Populations légales 2020
14. Populations légales 2021
15. Populations de référence 2022
16. Populations de référence 2023
17. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
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)