Pézenas
| Pézenas | ||
|---|---|---|
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| region | Occitania | |
| Department | Herault | |
| Arrondissement | Beziers | |
| Canton | Pézenas (main town) | |
| Community association | Hérault Méditerranée | |
| Coordinates | 43 ° 28 ′ N , 3 ° 25 ′ E | |
| height | 3–96 m | |
| surface | 29.56 km 2 | |
| Residents | 8,280 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 280 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 34120 | |
| INSEE code | 34199 | |
| Website | www.ville-pezenas.fr | |
Pézenas ( Occitan : Pesenaç , Pesenàs ) is a French city with 8,280 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Hérault department in the Occitania region . It is the seat of the administration of the canton of the same name .
geography
Pézenas is located in the Occitania region between Béziers (23 km) and Montpellier (63 km), in the Hérault Valley , near the mouth of its right tributary, the Peyne .
history
The foundation of Pézenas is around 300 BC. Dated. The place name is derived from the Latin Piscenae and is also related to the river Peyne . Pézenas was the seat of government and the residence of the governor of Languedoc in the 16th and 17th centuries. Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, made Pézenas the " Versailles of Languedoc".
Attractions
- The historic old town with listed buildings and hotels from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
- The famous city theater, which was built around 1830 in the classicist style from an empty church. The Comédie-Française has given many guest appearances here. The theater has been empty for decades, but efforts are underway to restore and reopen.
- The Vulliod Saint-Germain Museum, which brings together collections related to the history of the city, including a room dedicated to Molière .
Regular events
- Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday): The Poulain de Pézenas (foal of Pézenas) moves through the city dancing, accompanied by the population.
- February: The Rencontre Cinematographique film festival .
- Mid-April: The Printival cultural festival in memory of Boby Lapointe .
- Reconstitution Historique: Every second to third year Pézenas revives a selected epoch of its history on a weekend in spring.
- June 20th: Participation in the Fête de la musique with several stages as part of the European Day of Music.
- June 21: At the beginning of summer, the Fête de Saint Jean is celebrated on La Gambetta square .
- Marché du Samedi: The year-round weekly market attracts many visitors to the city every Saturday.
- La Mirondela dels Arts: During the summer months, countless small shops and galleries with handicrafts and all sorts can be found in the medieval old town, supported by restaurants and boutiques. In July and August, a wide cultural program accompanies craft and art. The Nocturne takes place every Wednesday and Friday evening . On these days the shops in the old town are open until midnight and traditionally there is music and various other performances to be seen in the squares and alleys.
- October: The International de l'image des Metiers festival focuses on the work of young filmmakers.
- Flea market twice a year (May / October) along the main road through Pézenas (former route National N113).
- Fair in November.
Personalities
- Pierre Richer de Belleval (around 1564–1632), French botanist and physician, general practitioner in Pézenas.
- Jean-François Sarasin (1614–1654), French writer and poet, here d.
- Roger de Harlay (1615–1669), Bishop and Count of Lodève , died in Pézenas.
- Louis Thomassin (1619–1695), French oratorian, philosopher and canon lawyer, teacher of philosophy in Pézenas.
- Molière (1622–1673), French actor, theater director and playwright; visited Pézenas with his theater group L'Illustre Théâtre.
- Armand de Bourbon, prince de Conti (1629–1666), French nobleman and founder of the younger line of the House of Bourbon-Conti ; died in Pézenas.
- Dom Bedos (1709–1779), French Benedictine, organ builder, appraiser and writer; attended the Oratorian School in Pézenas.
- Gabriel-François Venel (1723–1775), French doctor, pharmacist, chemist and encyclopaedist, died in Pézenas.
- Massimiliano Spinola (1780–1857), Italian entomologist, born in Pézenas.
- Paul Vidal de la Blache (1845–1918), French geographer, historian and ethnologist; Co-founder of human geography ; born in Pézenas.
- Louis Paulhan (1883–1963), French pilot, born in Pézenas.
- Edmond Charlot (1915-2004), discoverer of Albert Camus and editor of La France libre from 1940 to 1980.
- Boby Lapointe (Robert Lapointe) (1922–1972), French songwriter, born and died in Pézenas.
- Hippolyte Annex (* 1933), French boxer, born in Pézenas.
- Alain Robert (* 1962), French free climber , lives in Pézenas.
- Éric Dubus (* 1966), French medium and long-distance runner, born in Pézenas.
literature
- Pierre Paul Poncet: Histoire de la ville de Pézenas, des origines à 1733 , La Dominitienne, 1992
- Chanoine Alphonse Delouvrier: Histoire de Pézenas, ville latine, seigneurie féodale, comté, chef lieu de canton et de ses environs (Hérault) , Lacour Editeurs, Coll. Redivida, Nîmes, 1993
- Albert-Paul Alliès: Une ville d'États: Pézenas aux XVIe et XVIIe siècles , Éd. Domens, 5th edition, Pézenas, 2005
- Claude Alberge, Michel Christol , Jean Nougaret: Guide de Pézenas , 4th ed. 1987
- Jean Nougaret: Pézenas, évolution urbaine et architecturale du XVIe siècle à la fin du XVIIIe siècle - in: Etudes sur Pézenas et l'Hérault , 1979
- Jean Nougaret: Pézenas, Hérault. Images you patrimoine. Inventaire général des monuments et des richesses artistiques de la France , Région Languedoc Roussillon - ADAGP, 1998
- Claude Alberge: Histoire de Pézenas par les rues et les places , Éd. de la Tour Gile, 2004
Web links
Commons : Pézenas - collection of images, videos and audio files
