Breil-sur-Roya

Coordinates: 43°56′17″N 7°30′54″E / 43.9381°N 7.515°E / 43.9381; 7.515
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Breil-sur-Roya
The tower of Cruella, in Breil-sur-Roya
The tower of Cruella, in Breil-sur-Roya
Coat of arms of Breil-sur-Roya
Location of Breil-sur-Roya
Map
Breil-sur-Roya is located in France
Breil-sur-Roya
Breil-sur-Roya
Breil-sur-Roya is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Breil-sur-Roya
Breil-sur-Roya
Coordinates: 43°56′17″N 7°30′54″E / 43.9381°N 7.515°E / 43.9381; 7.515
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentAlpes-Maritimes
ArrondissementNice
CantonContes
IntercommunalityCA Riviera Française
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Sébastien Olharan[1]
Area
1
81.31 km2 (31.39 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
2,206
 • Density27/km2 (70/sq mi)
DemonymBreillois
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
06023 /06540
Elevation151–2,080 m (495–6,824 ft)
(avg. 310 m or 1,020 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Breil-sur-Roya (French pronunciation: [bʁɛj syʁ ʁwaja], literally Breil on Roya; Italian: Breglio sul Roia or simply Breglio; Ligurian: Breggio; Occitan: Brelh de Ròia) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 932—    
1800 1,419+6.19%
1806 1,511+1.05%
1822 1,969+1.67%
1838 2,392+1.22%
1848 2,637+0.98%
1858 2,458−0.70%
1861 2,706+3.26%
1866 2,709+0.02%
1872 2,595−0.71%
1876 2,576−0.18%
1881 2,538−0.30%
1886 2,565+0.21%
1891 2,696+1.00%
1896 2,668−0.21%
1901 2,728+0.45%
1906 2,645−0.62%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1911 2,804+1.17%
1921 5,136+6.24%
1926 2,899−10.81%
1931 2,666−1.66%
1936 2,562−0.79%
1946 1,321−6.41%
1954 2,029+5.51%
1962 1,994−0.22%
1968 2,148+1.25%
1975 2,089−0.40%
1982 2,095+0.04%
1990 2,058−0.22%
1999 2,028−0.16%
2007 2,115+0.53%
2012 2,444+2.93%
2017 2,158−2.46%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2017)[4]

Geography

Breil-sur-Roya as its name says is located on the scenic and fast moving river Roya within the river's gorge and along the adjacent escarpments. The area features river rafting, swimming, and hiking.

Breil-sur-Roya is one of the towns on the route of the SNCF Train des Merveilles which runs between Nice and Cuneo in Italy. Trains operate seven times each direction as of 2020 and can be taken from Nice (1 + 1/2 hour) for area touring. The line operated by Italy (FS, the Italian State Railroad) from Ventimiglia joints the SNCF line from Nice at Breil-sur-Roya.

Tourism

The GR52, part of the French Grande Randonnée walking trail network links the town to Gorges de Saorge and Vallon de Zouayne.

Breil-sur-Roya is particularly known for trout fishing. The Roya river runs through town and is open to trout anglers from March to September. Part of the trout run is reserved for fly-fishing. Trout anglers share the river with rafters, another popular local sport.

Flood of 2020

The river Roya violently flooded in October 2020. Major damage occurred to both commercial buildings, to residential homes, and to roads all the way downstream to Ventmiglia, Italy, on the seacoast.

Twin towns — sister cities

Breil-sur-Roya is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Breil-sur-Roya, EHESS (in French).
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE