Saissac

Saissac
Coat of arms
Saissac
Location within Languedoc-Roussillon region Saissac
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées
Department	Aude
Arrondissement	Carcassonne
Canton	Saissac
Intercommunality	Cabardès Montagne Noire
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Odile Seigne
Area1	57.03 km2 (22.02 sq mi)
Population (2008)2	981
• Density	17/km2 (45/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	11367 / 11310
Elevation	166–742 m (545–2,434 ft) (avg. 500 m or 1,600 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saissac is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.

Geography

The village is perched in the foothills of the Black Mountain at an altitude of 467 m and boasts stunning views of the Vernassonne Gorge as well as the valley plain which stretches between Carcassonne and Castelnaudary.

History

The name of the village first appeared in the 10th century and originates from the Gallo-Romain Saxiago. The history of the village is strongly linked the Château built in the 10th century.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1789	1,016	—
1962	587	−42.2%
1968	705	+20.1%
1975	652	−7.5%
1982	709	+8.7%
1990	867	+22.3%
1999	923	+6.5%
2008	981	+6.3%

Sights

Near Saissac, there is a transmitter for broadcasting messages to submerged submarines, the La Regine Transmitter. Its mast was built in 1973 and is 330 metres tall – taller than Eiffel Tower.

• Arboretum du Lampy

Château de Saissac

See also

• Communes of the Aude department

References

• INSEE