Puig Neulós

Puig Neulós (Pic du Néoulous) is the highest mountain of Albera Range, an eastern prolongation of the Pyrenees in Catalonia, between France and Spain. It has an elevation of 1,256 metres above sea level.

There are some antennas on the summit and there is a paved road on the French side restricted to military use. The summit, as well as most of the southern side of the range is part of the Paratge Natural d'Interès Nacional de l'Albera natural reserve.

A man-made rock formation known as La Reyne de las Founs surrounds a water source coming out of the mountain. Built by 19th century shepherd Emmanuel Coste, known as Manel, it is inscribed with the quotation "les douaniers ici trouvent souvent ce qu'ils cherchent". Later, smugglers used pebble formations to codify messages about customs officials in the vicinity.

Toponymy
Puig Neulós is a Catalan name which has been preserved as it is in French. Coming from the Latin podium, Puig means “puy” and designates a rounded summit or mountain. Neulós is analogous to the French “nébuleux” in the sense “covered with clouds”. We find a mention of this summit in a text from 1322 in the Latin form Podio Nebuloso, which has the same meaning4.

IGN maps give either puig Neulós1, or the slightly French form pic Neulos5. We also find in literature the French form corresponding to the Northern Catalan pronunciation: Néoulous.

Topography
The Puig Neulós, seen from the Coll de l'Aranyó (899 m). The steep rock on the ridge to the right of the peak is the Roc du Midi (Roc del Migdia, 872 m).

Below, on a line of ridges, is the Roc du Midi, very visible, and to the west the Roc Fouirous, a southwest-facing outcrop.