Puilaurens (French pronunciation: [pɥiloʁɑ̃s] , also non-officially: Lapradelle-Puilaurens; Occitan: La Pradèla de Puèglhaurenç) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.

It includes the hamlets of Lapradelle, Puilaurens and Lavignac. It is known for the medieval Puilaurens Castle.

The commune is situated on the Boulzane river and the Green Meridian.

The built-up area of Lapradelle did not exist until the 19th century and owes its development to activities related to water power taken from the Boulzane: textile spinning and sawmills.

In 1904, a railway was constructed from Quillan to Rivesaltes (the Carcassonne - Rivesaltes Line) passing through Lapradelle on a viaduct spanning the valley of the Boulzane. The line carried passengers until 1939. Afterwards it was used to transport feldspar between the Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales, the railway line is today used in the summer for a tourist train, running between Axat and Rivesaltes.

In 1868, Puilaurens lost the hamlets of Salvezines and Caunil, established as the separate commune of Salvezines.

Its inhabitants are called Puilaurenois.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1962	324	—
1968	378	+16.7%
1975	257	−32.0%
1982	222	−13.6%
1990	219	−1.4%
1999	236	+7.8%
2006	252	+6.8%
2007	254	+0.8%
2012	265	+4.3%
2015	266	+0.4%

• Communes of the Aude department