Ayguatébia-Talau

Ayguatébia-Talau (Aiguatèbia i Talau) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. Prior to 1983, It was known as Ayguatébia.

Location
Ayguatébia-Talau is located in the canton of Les Pyrénées catalanes and in the arrondissement of Prades.

Toponymy
The name of Ayguatébia appears in 958 as Aqua tebeda, immediately followed in 959 by Aquatepida. Villa Aque tepida is used during the 11th century and Aiguetevia is found in 1392. From the 17th century and on, the common forms are Aiguetebia and Ayguatebia. The modern spelling in Catalan is Aiguatèbia, but the traditional spelling, Ayguatèbia, should be preferred.
 * Attested forms

The name of Talau appears in 874 as Villa Talatio and in 876 as Talacho. Talazo, Talaz and Talaxo are used during the 10th century. Talau appears in the 13th century and is used since.

The name of Ayguatébia comes from the Latin aqua tebeda, meaning lukewarm water, in relation with warm springs found in Ayguatébia.
 * Etymology

The name of Talau comes from a pre-Latin radical, Tal or Tala, meaning a small plateau found above a cliff or a hill, which corresponds to the situation of the village of Talau, located above the valley of the Cabrils river.

History
The commune Ayguatébia-Talau was created on January 1, 1983, by uniting the former communes of Ayguatébia and Talau.

Architecture

 * Saint-Felix and Saint-Armengol church in Ayguatébia
 * Saint-Stephen church in Talau
 * Saint-Michael of the Plans church

Notable people

 * Saint Ermengol (?–1035) was possibly born in Ayguatébia.