Bouzigues
Bouzigues Bosigas |
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region | Occitania | |
Department | Herault | |
Arrondissement | Montpellier | |
Canton | Mèze | |
Community association | Bassin de Thau | |
Coordinates | 43 ° 27 ' N , 3 ° 40' E | |
height | 0-61 m | |
surface | 3.05 km 2 | |
Residents | 1,655 (January 1, 2017) | |
Population density | 543 inhabitants / km 2 | |
Post Code | 34140 | |
INSEE code | 34039 | |
Website | Bouzigues | |
Bouzigues on the banks of the Étang de Thau |
Bouzigues ( Occitan : Bosigas ) is a place and a municipality with 1,655 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Hérault department in the Occitania region in southern France .
location
The small town of Bouzigues is about five to ten meters above the north bank of the Étang de Thau , which makes up about half of the municipal area, and is only about 13 km (driving distance) from the town of Sète to the south. The city of Montpellier is located around 33 km northeast.
Population development
year | 1800 | 1851 | 1901 | 1954 | 1975 | 1999 | 2012 | 2017 |
Residents | 835 | 1,373 | 1,200 | 747 | 904 | 1208 | 1724 | 1655 |
The phylloxera crisis in viticulture and the increasing mechanization of agriculture resulted in a significant decline in the number of inhabitants in the first half of the 20th century. As a result of the relative proximity to Montpellier, the increasing tourism and the comparatively low real estate prices, there has been a significant increase in population in Bouzigues in recent decades.
economy
For centuries, the inhabitants of the community lived on fishing and agriculture (grain, wine, vegetables) as self-sufficient ; the city of Montpellier came into question as a market place because of its comparatively short distance . At the beginning of the 20th century, oyster farming began - a branch of the economy that only gained greater economic importance after the Second World War . Since the 1960s, tourism (holiday apartments, hotels, restaurants, etc.) has played an increasingly important role in the local economy.
history
Little is known about the history of Bouzigues; the first settlers seem to have been fishermen and shepherds, who later also turned to growing grain. The current parish church ( Église Saint-Jacques ) dates from the 18th century; It is unclear whether there was a previous medieval building.
Attractions
- The townscape with its proximity to the north bank of the Étang de Thau and the mountains in the hinterland is extremely attractive.
- The beaches of the Étang de Thau are much less visited by tourists than the Mediterranean beaches at Sète.
- The Musée de l'Étang de Thau shows exhibits and photos from the history of the lake and the surrounding areas.