Ille-sur-Têt
[4] The commune is situated in the Ribéral region along the route nationale 116 and is crossed by the river Têt (in the north), as well as by its tributary, the Boulès (in the south).
[6] The commune is also geologically characterised by the existence in its territory of chimney-like structures which have been named the "Orgues" (organ pipes) of Ille-sur-Têt.
[9] The Pliocene outcrop in the commune lies between the foot of the granite plateau and the Têt river, around one kilometre north of the town.
[10][11] The river terrace ("Fy" on the geological map) is thought to have formed towards the end of the most recent (Würm, or Devensian) glacial period.
[8] Prosper Mérimée's short story La Vénus d'Ille takes place in Ille-sur-Têt.
View looking south-east towards the town of Ille-sur-Têt. The town (in the centre and slightly to the right) lies close to the
River Têt
. To the north-west of this river lies a granite plateau (of
Hercynian
date, around 300 million years old), which can be seen here with solar panels.
[
7
]
[
8
]
To the south-east of the Têt, around and beyond the town, is a series of recent
Quaternary
river terraces. Beyond (and beyond the commune) rise the Aspres hills, where some formations are over 500 million years old. The
Roussillon
plain (
Neogene
and Quaternary) extends to the east (left).
