a town of France, capital of the department of Pyrénées-Orientales, stands partly on the slope of a hill, and partly in a level plain, on the right banks of the Tet, at its confluence with the Basse, about 6 miles above its mouth, and 80 miles S.W. of Montpellier. It guards the passage between Spain and France by the Eastern Pyrenees, and is now one of the most strongly fortified places in France, the defences having been much improved since 1815. In form it is nearly oval, being Perrault, about 2 miles in length by 1 in breadth. The defences consist of a strong citadel, standing on the hill to the S. of the town, and separated from it by a wide glacis; by ramparts, bastions, redoubts, covered ways, &c. The inner ramparts of the citadel were erected by the Emperor Charles V., and the outer ones by Vaulan. As the province of Roussillon, of which Perpignan was the capital, belonged to Spain till its cession to France in 1659, it is not to be wondered that the town retains much of its Spanish character, and its inhabitants greatly resemble those of Catalonia, on the other side of the mountains. The streets, which are narrow and dirty, are in many parts covered over with awnings, and in others with the wooden balconies of the houses. These are almost all built in the Moorish style, and have patios, or inner courts. In the citadel are an old square tower, and the remains of a church with a curious portal. The cathedral, which was begun in 1324, consists of a wide and lofty nave; and contains a beautifully-carved altar screen, and an ancient marble font. Near this building are the ruins of the older church of St Jean le Vieux. The buildings of the ancient university contain the public library of 20,000 volumes; and the Dominican church and convent are now used as an arsenal. Besides the buildings already mentioned, there are a town-hall, court-house, barracks, custom-house, theatre, college, diocesan school, botanic gardens, and two hospitals. Woollen stuffs, lace, playing-cards, soap, brandy, and leather are the principal articles manufactured; and a considerable trade is carried on in wines, brandy, oil, silk, wool, iron, cork, &c. Perpignan is the seat of a bishop, and of courts of the first instance and of commerce. In the year 1349, when Roussillon belonged to the crown of Aragon, the university of Perpignan was founded by King Pedro. In 1474 the town was taken by Louis XI. of France; but having been restored to Spain, it was again taken by Louis XIII. in 1642; and, along with the province of Roussillon, finally ceded to France by the treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. Pop. (1856) 19,844.