Border Landscapes across Europe
Geographical Landscape Research
Landscape change across the border
La Jonquera – Le Perthus – Le Boulou
Katarzyna Bromka
Karolina Kozak
Izabela Krzewina
Miquel Saludas
Sebastian Rossi
Mariana Verdonen
Girona, 2013
Contents
1.
Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 2
2.
Historical background ....................................................................................................... 3
2.1
La Jonquera ............................................................................................................... 4
2.2
Le Pertús ................................................................................................................... 5
2.3
Le Boulou.................................................................................................................. 5
3.
Theoretical background ..................................................................................................... 6
4.
Data and Methods ............................................................................................................. 7
5.
6.
4.1
Data........................................................................................................................... 7
4.2
Darby´s cross-section method .................................................................................... 8
Results .............................................................................................................................. 9
5.1
Urban changing ......................................................................................................... 9
5.2
Land use .................................................................................................................. 17
Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 22
References .............................................................................................................................. 23
1
1. Introduction
This work is the result of field exercise “Border Landscapes across Europe” which took
place in Catalonia from 5th to 18th May 2013. It is an international project which brings
together students of the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznan (Poland),
Universitat de Girona (Catalonia, Spain) and University of Eastern Finland.
The idea of this study was to acquaint students with the difficulties of the CatalanFrench border. In these classes, the students held a series of meetings about landscapes
in the area. They participated in conferences and discussions and they had the
opportunity to conduct field observations thanks to excursions through the region.
The subject of our report is about the landscape changes across the Catalan-French
border. Studies were based on information collected in the Catalan town of La Jonquera
(Fig. 1) and in the Catalan-French neighborhood of Le Perthus (Fig. 2.), which has
always been an important way through the Pyrenees. The main subject in this work is
land use of the border area. We want to define the landscape changes in the above
mentioned area. How does the land use change across the border and why? How has it
changed during the years?
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain with the official status of a nationality.
There is on the north-east of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona,
Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. It covers an area of 32 107 km² and has an official
population of 7 565 603 people (2012). La Jonquera is a municipality of l´Alt Emporda
in
Catalonia.
It
is
situated
just
by
the
border,
north
of
the
region.
Fig. 1. Location of La Jonquera in Spain. (L&V Location-et-Vacances 2013)
2
Vallespir is a historical Catalan region of Northern Catalonia, part of the French
Département of Pyrénées-Orientales. The capital of the region is Ceret, and it borders
with Conflent, Rosselló, Alt Empordà, Garrotxa and Ripollès. Le Perthus is a commune
in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, the same like Le Boulou
(Fig. 3.) which situated 12 km from the Spanish border.
Fig. 2. Location of Le Perthus in France. (L&V Location-et-Vacances 2013)
Fig. 3. Location of Le Boulou in France. (L&V Location-et-Vacances 2013)
2. Historical background
The current land use is a heritage of ancient practices that modified the environment.
According to this, it is important to identify the evolution of the settlements of this
border zone as “hot spots” of intensive changes along the years.
3
2.1 La Jonquera
The location of the village has played an important role as crossing zone. The first
archeological remains date from mid Neolithic era (around 3500 to 2700 bC.) and are
composed for menhir and dolmens. The presence of the romans in this area is known by
the pass of the most important road that connected Rome with Iberia, the Via Domicia
converted more ahead into "Via Augusta" in the Panissars mountain pass. (Ajuntament
de La Jonquera 2013, A)
The current environment of La Jonquera has appeared on the middle age as an
extremely scattered settlement composed for castles and defense towers and for the
isolated peasant’s houses. Was in the low middle age when emerged the concentrated
capital, which was in the middle of a fertile plain and therefore in a more agricultural
potential land than other forest territories. La Jonquera during these times had appeared
as a modest village, consisting on a church, perhaps one or two hotels and various farm
houses. All buildings were located around the church and all over the road. (Ajuntament
de La Jonquera 2013, A)
In 1453 the chartae populationis was conceded to La Jonquera. At that time the village
comprised two distinct planning units: The fortress called La Força and a neighborhood
outside the walls, but stuck to the fortress. (Ajuntament de La Jonquera 2013, A)
One of the most important events for la Jonquera was the Peace of the Pyrenees (1659),
signed between the French monarchy and the Spanish monarchy. It stipulated the
transfer of Roussillon to France and designates a border that will follow the southern
ridge of the Pyrenees turning La Jonquera in a border town. (Ajuntament de La
Jonquera 2013, A)
After this moment, La Jonquera has entered in a long period of progress and prosperity.
This improvement was influenced not only by the increase in border traffic and trade
but especially for a more intense exploitation of the term resources, especially the forest
(wood and cork) or the badlands to plant vines or cork oaks (Quercus suber). The rise of
the local economy causes an increase in population; this supposed an increase of the
limits of the village. (Ajuntament de La Jonquera 2013, A)
4
2.2 Le Pertús
Le Perthus is a neighbourhood of La Jonquera located in a mountain pass (Coll del
Pertús) and permit to cross from one side to the other of Pyrénées. This strategic
location has always been coveted. (Ajuntament de La Jonquera 2013, B)
The first who understood the importance were the Romans and after the fall of Rome
and the recovery of Septimania by the Visigoths, the territory of Le Perthus continued
his role in supervision of the Pyrenees. The central point of the defensive tower was
Ultrera but Le Perthus had his military buildings, now ruined. Then the Saracens
conquered Spain and the South of France before they were arrested in Poitiers by the
Franks who drove them beyond the Pyrenees. These newly acquired territories were
given to pioneers from northern France to settle in the South. (Pyrenees Catalanes 2013)
Le Perthus was still controlled militarily and a watchtower on the hill above the city was
built in the Middle Ages. This tower was surrounded in the seventeenth century for a
real strong Bellegarde Castle. The village of El Pertús have taken benefit for the
presence of a garrison which had significantly increased the population. The
municipality of Le Perthus was formed in 1836 through the merger of three villages: Le
Perthus, Les Cluses and Albère. Unfortunately this merger was not considered valid,
and the three villages resumed their independence in 1948. The current Le Perthus was
designed officially in 1851. Thereafter Le Perthus has developed slowly, it was quite a
small farming village, who lived much of the passage to Spain because of it position.
(Pyrenees Catalanes 2013)
Nowadays the city is divided into two distinct parts: the French and the Spanish. It has a
commercial important role due to the differences between prices in Spain (lower) than
France (higher). It present an important singularity, the road divides the two entities in
the southern part, in the northern part both parts are French. (Pyrenees Catalanes 2013)
2.3 Le Boulou
Since the ancient times, Le Boulou has played an important role as a crossroad point.
Located on the way north-south, the village was a permanent testimony of the
5
exchanges across the border and the pass of big migrations of citizens and armies
crossing the Pyrenees. (Mairie du Boulou 2010)
There we can find marks left by prehistorically populations, the Via Domicia (118 aC),
thediscover of the thermal fountains in the middle age. The history of le Boulou is
dynamic in constant change according to the new flows between the south and the
north. (Mairie du Boulou 2010)
The most important event located in Le Boulou was the Battle of Le Boulou (1 may
1794). It was one of the battles of the Big War (1793-1795) between Spain and France
for the possession of the Rousillon. (Mairie du Boulou 2010)
Nowadays Le Boulou has an important role as a logistic and economic pole. The
exponent of this role is the Distriport, the union of the transport by road (to the south)
and the train transport (to the north). The creation of this centre is due to the different
wide of the Spanish railways. (Mairie du Boulou 2010)
3. Theoretical background
Concept of Landscape has many meanings. The meanings have also varied through the
history, place and time, which have an effect on how the concept is understood.
Landscape is not only a complex phenomenon, which is handled by the scientific
method, but it is also an emotional component, which is a subjective observation and,
depending on the recipient can provide different experiences. Landscape is not a passive
layer, but it changes and transforms in interaction with natural and human processes.
The word landscape has complex and multiple meanings that shift in response to the
context in which they are used and by the background of the users. Also, the meaning of
the term changes with changing environmental conditions. The definition of landscape
can change also when different stakeholders perceive the landscape with different
intentions. Thus we will not define a specific experience of landscape but search and
wonder about the interaction of perceptions.
There are a lot of definitions of landscape. For example “Claval (2004) sees the
landscape as the synthesis that embraces geo-ecological relations, spatial patterns,
scenic and aesthetical qualities and even social and cultural traditions” (Antrop 2006,
6
33). According to The European landscape convention (Florence 2000, 07/03/2012
ratification, entry into force in Andorra 01/07/2012) “Landscape means an area, as
perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of
natural and/or human factors.”
Landscape changes can be a result of natural processes or human activity. For example
the changing of seasons causes changes in landscape. Also a quick process, for example
a volcanic eruption, creates changes in the landscape. People change the landscape with
different activities. Changes in landscape can be caused for example by construction of
new buildings. People can also modify areas of forests.
In our report the landscape is seen as a combination of cultural and natural landscape,
but we focus mainly on changes in land use because the human activity is the main
driving force of landscape change on the study area. The growth of the towns is
changing the landscape.
Land use is the human use of land. Land use includes the management and modification
of natural environment into built environment as, for example, fields and settlements.
(Markuszewska, 2013).
4. Data and Methods
4.1 Data
Land use data (years 1992, 1997, 2002) is from Nexus Geografics (Nexux Geografics
2013) We had problems getting new data of land use, so we had to settle on data from
2002. A lot has happened between 2002 and 2013 so we will fill the gap with aerial
photographs from the area in concern. This will not be as accurate as a land use or land
cover raw data, but it is still a good way to illustrate the changes in this area of interest.
For having a more detailed picture of the landscapes in La Jonquera and Le Perthus was
collected the land cover data from the Institut Cartografic de Catalunya webside
(CREAF 2013). The GIS-data about land use in Le Perthus from the French side was
not useful for our study, because of its different scale and classification.
7
Aerial photographs were taken from the Institut Cartografic de Catalunya (ICC 2013.)
We chose three points of reference that are about 30 years apart. The first one is from
the American Flight photographs from 1956, when the American military did an over
flight aerial photographing over the area (Martin 2013.) The second is from 1990,
before the opening of the border in 1997 (Europa 2013.) The last one is from 2012,
where we can see the most resent status of the area in question.
4.2 Darby´s cross-section method
In this study we are using the cross-section method of Henry Darby to analyse the aerial
photos and land use maps of the Le Boulou – La Jonquera area. According to Baker
(2003, 28) Darby was one of the most important authors of historical geography in his
time and he identified four themes between geography and history. Here we are
concentrating to the third of Darby´s theme “the history behind geography” (Baker
2003, 28). The cross-section method by Darby utilises a specific time where you take a
certain place and time of a certain area of interest. You analyse the area by attributes of
your choice; in this study the land use of this area. In this method you try to find
historical events in the area that has affected the landscape in that precise moment of
your interest.
As the cross-section method is not a formal method it enables the usage of a lot of
different data and analyse methods (Tanskanen, 2008, 99). Tanskanen (2008, 99) also
states that Darby´s method is good way to approach certain turning point in history that
has had a great impact on the region. In our case this means like in example the year
1993.
In our study we have collected three points in history that we are going to analyse using
Darby´s cross-section method. Using this method we get a really good perception to the
reasons in history why the landscape of Le Boulou and La Jonquera has changed the
way it has. In our study the style of describing of our findings is going to be like a
narrative. In essence we are going to describe what has changed and the historical
reasons to that change. Tanskanen (2011, 196) also used this method, while not
mentioning it, to describe changes in mires in Finland, she found historical events that
in this context affected the usage of mires.
8
In conclusion the Darby's cross-section method of analysing photographical data with a
historical view is a perfect match with our material and subject.
5. Results
5.1 Urban changing
Since 1956 La Jonquera and Le Perthus has changed a lot in various aspects. Economy,
population, urbanization, in general, social and cultural factors were changing
substantially. Therefore, the natural environment was changing, in one hand, in order to
these aspects. In the other hand, the natural components were changing because of their
natural dynamics. In addition, recently, has appeared the intention of recuperate habitats
and elements of natural landscape that had been in the past, especially around the
border. We focused on the aspect of land use.
All of these elements and factors are the causes of the changes in the landscape,
although, some components have survived since 1956 to nowadays. We explain this
evolution with analyzing the municipality in 3 different moments: 1956 (Fig. 4), 1990
(Fig. 5) and 2012 (Fig. 6). We use aerial photographies and an ortofotomap for the most
recently years. Before the analysis of the evolution between 1956 to nowadays, we
study a little how was the urban area in the municipality in different years.
9
Fig. 4. Aerial photo of La Jonquera and Le Perthus in year 1956. (Institut Cartografic de
Catalunia, 2013)
Fig. 5. Aerial photo of La Jonquera and Le Perthus in year 1990. (Institut Cartografic de
Catalunia, 2013)
10
Fig. 6. Aerial photo of La Jonquera and Le Perthus in year 2012. (Institut Cartografic de
Catalunia, 2013)
Fig. 7. Spanish urban area of Le Perthus in year 1956. (Institut Cartografic de Catalunia,
2013)
11
Fig. 8. Spanish urban area of Le Perthus in year 1956 in relation to year 2012. (Institut
Cartografic de Catalunia, 2013)
The surface of the Spanish urban area of Le Perthus in year 1956 was 1,59 ha (Fig. 7).
Fig. 9. Urban area of Le Perthus in year 1990. (Institut Cartografic de Catalunia, 2013)
12
Fig. 10. Urban area of Le Perthus in year 1990 in relation to year 2012. (Institut Cartografic
de Catalunia, 2013)
The surface of urban area of Le Perthus in year 1990 was 15,84 ha (Fig. 9).
Fig. 11. Urban area of Le Perthus in year 2012. (Institut Cartografic de Catalunia, 2013)
The surface of Le Perthus in year 2012 was 22,47 ha (Fig. 11).
By using the Darby’s cros-section method we can describe the evolution of the
municipality of Le Perthus. We focused on the evolution of the urban area because the
characteristics of this village, since its creation, as a “border town” and as a border
control settlement with military objectives have converted Le Perthus in a services
town. Nowadays, the commercial role is more alive than ever, due to the different taxes
between France and Spain that affect the prices of the products (cheaper prices in
13
Spain). In these photos we can see big variations on the urban areas that have evolved
from 1,59 ha in 1956 (Fig. 8) to 7,85 ha in 2012. These numbers correspond only to the
Spanish side. Taking in consideration the evolution of the both parts (French- Spanish)
from 1990 (15,84 ha) to 2012 (22,47 ha) (Fig. 10) we can see an expansion of the town
concentrated in the residencial french part and in a lower level along the Southern part
of the road in the Spanish part.
Fig. 12. Urban area of La Jonquera in year 1956. (Institut Cartografic de Catalunia, 2013)
Fig. 13. Urban area of La Jonquera in year 1956 in relation to year 2012. (Institut Cartografic
de Catalunia, 2013)
The surface of urban area of La Jonquera in year 1956 was 11,00 ha (Fig. 12).
14
Fig. 14. Urban area of La Jonquera in year 1990. (Institut Cartografic de Catalunia, 2013)
Fig. 15. Urban area of La Jonquera in year 1990 in relation to year 2012. (Institut
Cartografic de Catalunia, 2013)
15
Fig. 16. Urban area of La Jonquera in year 2012. (Institut Cartografic de Catalunia, 2013)
The surface of urban area of La Jonquera in year 2012 was 158,45 ha (Fig. 16).
The expansion of La Jonquera, along the analyzed period of 56 years, has been
incredible. La Jonquera has increased its urban area from 11,00 ha in 1956 to 158,45 ha
in 2012 (Fig. 13). In the middle of this period (1990) the surface of urban area was
83,40 ha (Fig. 14). Between 1990 and 2012 La Jonquera increased its urban area 75,05
ha (Fig. 15). The causes that can explain this important expansion are similar than for
Le Perthus, however the historical events, the political and social dynamics and the
infrastructures determine also this evolution.
Fig. 17. Le Boulou, 2006; scale: 1:1000. (Institut Cartografic de Catalunia, 2013)
16
Le Boulou (Fig. 17) is the French twin town of La Jonquera and has taken main part in
transport and economy (Distriport). With the passage of time this municipality has
grown a lot and nowadays has important role near French border, the same as La
Jonquera near Catalan border.
5.2 Land use
While analyzing land use of La Jonquera between 1992 and 2002 (Fig. 18) we can
observe that some of the elements increased their faces while others decreased (Table
1). To the first group we can include: road infrastructure, dry fruit trees, woods and
meadows, deciduous forest and soil with little or no vegetation. The uses which reduced
its surfaces include villages, industrial and commercial area, rainfed arable crops,
vineyards and sclerophyllous forest.
The expansion of the area of road infrastructure, which is also seen in the land cover
maps of La Jonquera (Fir. 19) and Le Perthus (Fig. 20), was caused because of the
development of the trade across the border since the application of the Single European
Act that supposes the creation of a common market on 1993. This new political
situation increase the affluence of new clients (truck drivers) as a potential new buyers
causing the transformation of the traditional economy based in the exploitation of the
natural resources as cork and wood to one based on services and border equipment.
The abandonment of the traditional exploitation as cork, wood, charcoal… conduced to
an increase of the forest. Furthermore, the lack of management of these zones has
caused the increase of big fires as the big fire of 2012 that reduce the surface of
sclerophyllus forest giving pass to secondary communities as woods and meadows.
Nowadays the 90 percent of the surface of La Jonquera is protected for the Natural
interesting space of la Serra de l’Albera. Other decreases in traditional activities that can
be explained for the turn of the economy in La Jonquera are the rainfed arable crops (its
presence haven’t been important due to the orography of the village) and vineyards
displaced by urban areas and roadways. Their abandonement is giving pass to deciduous
forest. Also the institutions are planting this kind of trees as Castanea sativa to avoid
the erosion of the inclined slopes present in La Jonquera.
The proliferation of new services supposes the creation of new work places. This
situation increases the number of residents between around 50-160% from the period
17
1950-2001. This population growth was correlated with an increase of the urban area
that has been swallowed up by the city so we notice a decrease of this element. Because
of gaps in the data on urbanized area we are unable to quantify how it has changed.
However, as mentioned previously, based on aerial photographs, this area has increased.
Areas of Industrial and commercial area declined due to insufficient use of those areas.
Rainfed arable crops, vineyards and sclerophyllous forest have been displaced by urban
areas.
The most important aspect is the regression of the industrial and commercial areas.
However it has a good explanation. The industry of the zone was focused on the
exploitation of the natural resources and the area that was occupied for this business was
bigger than this used in a commercial road. So the decrease of industry is bigger than
the increase of the commercial area. Finally, the increase of dry fruit trees can be
explained by the nature of the product that provides good sales and were so gladly
planted.
Fig. 18. Land use of La Jonquera 1992-2002.
18
Table 1. Land use of La Jonquera (%). Increased in green and decreased in red.
Category
Road infrastructure
Urban area
Villages
Industrial and commercial area
Rainfed arable crops
Irrigated herbaceous crops
Dry fruit trees
Vineyards
Woods and meadows
Sclerophyllous forest
Deciduous forest
Soil with little or no vegetation
1992
2,28
0,97
0,11
3,74
0,06
0,28
18,91
65,53
7,77
0,33
1997
2,81
0,5
0,4
0,07
3,23
0,18
0,14
22,26
61,65
7,95
0,77
2002
2,93
0,5
0,44
0,07
2,41
0,09
0,13
0,17
21,7
60,69
10,15
0,6
19
Fig. 19. Land cover of La Jonquera in 2009.
20
Fig. 20. Land cover of Le Perthus in 2009.
21
6. Conclusions
Having in consideration the analysis of the evolution in the landscape of border, we can
establish some factors and process that are the driving forces of changes and
permanencies.
The main changes of landscape are modified by human activity or its abandonment.
Landscape will always be habitat for human beings, who according to their needs
transforms it. After some time the landscape and man live in a kind of symbiosis.
Landscape becomes addicted to man and in the moment when the man leaves some area
also comes to transformations. In the study area we have seen a lot of these processes.
Firstly, increasing urbanization area as the habitat of human life.
The land use in La Jonquera has been completely determined by the change from a
traditional economy based on the forestry resources to a services economy. And in the
same way, the economy has been influences for the border and the differences between
countries.
Nowadays, the cooperation for the study across the border is still young, and as some
professors pointed it will not be completed until the moment that we start to use an
“International Language” on the data, vocabulary, et cetera.
In conclusion the land use in the area in question (Le Boulou - La Jonquera) has been
influenced by historical event like the opening of the border between French and
Catalonia. The largest change has been in the traditional forestry that has been almost
disapeared. Also the most significant change has happened in the area of La Jonquera
where the commercial area has expanded a lot.
This study is lacking of comparable GIS-data from the French side of our research area.
With more time for looking for data would be possible to continue this study and
analyse deeper the changes in land use and land cover.
22
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