Bélesta-en-Lauragais

Bélesta-en-Lauragais (French pronunciation: [belɛsta ɑ̃ loʁaɡɛ], literally Bélesta in Lauragais; Occitan: Belestar de Lauragués) is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.

Bélesta-en-Lauragais
Bèl Estar (Occitan)
The town hall in Bélesta-en-Lauragais
The town hall in Bélesta-en-Lauragais
Coat of arms of Bélesta-en-Lauragais
Map
Location of Bélesta-en-Lauragais
Bélesta-en-Lauragais is located in France
Bélesta-en-Lauragais
Bélesta-en-Lauragais
Location within France
Bélesta-en-Lauragais is located in Occitanie
Bélesta-en-Lauragais
Bélesta-en-Lauragais
Location within Occitanie
Coordinates: 43°26′32″N 1°49′24″E / 43.4422°N 1.8233°E / 43.4422; 1.8233
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentHaute-Garonne
ArrondissementToulouse
CantonRevel
IntercommunalityCC aux sources du Canal du Midi
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Luc Gouxette[1]
Area
1
5.59 km2 (2.16 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)[2]
114
 • Density20.4/km2 (52.8/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
31060 /31540
Elevation209–300 m (686–984 ft)
(avg. 260 m or 850 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 74—    
1975 61−2.72%
1982 72+2.40%
1990 66−1.08%
1999 84+2.72%
2007 110+3.43%
2012 108−0.37%
2017 115+1.26%
2023 114−0.15%
Source: INSEE[3]

The inhabitants of the commune are known in French as Bélestais and Bélestaises.

Astronomical observatory

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A group of amateur astronomers formed the Association pour le Développement Amateur d’un Grand Instrument d’Observation (ADAGIO), which established the Bélesta Observatory in 1996. In 2019, the association donated the land from the Bélesta Observatory to the Société astronomique de France, with ADAGIO remaining the owner and operator of the telescopes.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 9 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
  3. ↑ Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023, INSEE
  4. ↑ Société astronomique de France, “Les Observatoires et les lunettes.” https://saf-astronomie.fr/observatoires/