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The
bordermarkers of the
Pyrenees : how many markers?
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There are 723 bordermarkers (according to my definition) It seems so simple: no. 1 is near Hendaye in the Basque country, the last one is no. 602 at the mediterranean coast. So that makes 602 bordermarkers. But no, there are many more. Definition But first we have to do a bit of definition. What should be considered as a bordermarker for this counting? Well, this is my definition: any marker (stone, cross, plate) with a (sub)number or other alpha-numerical indication fitting in the 001-602 number-sequence of the Bayonne treaties. A sub-bordermarker with only BIS on it but obviously being a submarker of a numbered marker counts as a marker. A bordermarker with only an E and F doesn't qualify. A bordermarker - how official it may be - without any alpha-numerical inscription will never qualify. Counting After the decision on definition, we can start to count. The Bayonne treaties mention the following additional markers above the 1-602 markers: - the Llivia bordermarkers: no. 1 to 45 but with 9 double markers (16-20 and 31-34) and one bis-marker (21bis) --> 55 markers extra - in the Basque country: 122bis --> 1 marker extra - in the forêt d'Iraty: 234bis --> 1 marker extra - near Pic d'Anie: 271bis --> 1 marker extra - in the mountains west of Puigcerda: 437I, 439I, 439II, 439III --> 4 markers extra - double markers on each side of the river Rahur or its bridges close to Puigcerda: 477 to 482 --> 6 markers extra - beyond Puigcerda: 501I, 501II, 501III, 501IV, 501V and 501VI --> 6 extra - beyond Le Perthus: 577I and 579BIS --> 2 extra ----------------------------------------- That makes 678 bordermarkes in total according to the Bayonne treaties But there are more - not mentioned in the original treaties - but placed later and stumbled upon or found otherwise: - in the Basque country: 044A to 044L --> 12 markers extra - on the Port de Larrau: 237b BIS --> 1 marker extra - the BIS-pillar at Col de Somport: 305 BIS --> 1 marker extra - at Col de Peyrelue: 310bis - at Col de Lourdes: a fake 316 (very non-official but you shouldn't miss it, I think) - at (the current) Col de Clarabide: bm330bis - west of Bagnères-de-Luchon: 408 I to IV --> 4 markers extra - pointing to the borderline in the Garonne from the west-shore: 409 1 to 409 7--> 7 markers extra - pointing to the borderline in the Garonne from the east-shore: 409 1 to 409 7--> 7 markers extra - west of Andorra, at Passage de la Lègne, placed in 1997: 420bis --> 1 marker extra - west of Andorra, Port de Salau, engraved in 1963: 422bis --> 1 marker extra - border Andorra-France near Pas de la Casa: bordermarkers 1-3, placed in 2019 --> 3 markers extra (note: there are also three intermediate markers, however lacking an alphanumerical-sequential indication. They only have "AND FR" on them. So they don't qualify for my counting) - on both sides of the railway close to Puigcerda: 467/1 and 467/2 --> 2 markers extra - west of Le Perthus: 567 BIS --> 1 marker extra - BIS-plate in the tarmac-surface in Le Perthus: 574 BIS --> 1 extra - the BIS-pillar at the mediterranean coast: 601BIS --> 1 extra ----------------------------------------- And that makes in total: 723 bordermarkers Special cases - two or more bordermarkers next to each other (or a few meters apart), carrying the same number. For example an old bordercross supplemented with a new borderpillar like bm595. Another example: bm146 where two rocks nearby contain the same number. Should they be counted as separate bordermarkers? Answer: NO. In those cases, I count them as one bordermarker. - but the bm251-pillar has been erected - for unknown reasons - 55 meters away from the original bordercross bm255. I count them separately. - the two bridges between Puigcerda and Bourg-Madame have double bordermarkers, one on each balustrade. I count them as separate bordermarkers. |