Bessèges

French commune
nomcommune=Bessèges
The former railway station of Bessèges
région=Languedoc-Roussillon
département=Gard
arrondissement=Alès
canton=Bessèges
insee=30037
cp=30160
maire=Bernard Portales
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=
longitude=4.1014
latitude=44.2925
alt moy=170 m
alt mini=146
alt maxi=492 m
hectares=1032
km²=10.32
sans=3137
date-sans=1999
dens=303
date-dens=1999

Bessèges is a commune in the Gard department in France. It is situated on the Cèze river.

History

Historically Bessèges was a hamlet of Robiac. Its importance began with the opening of a coalmine in 1809, followed by an iron and steel plant in 1833, and eventually the railway reached it in 1857. The commune was created in 1858 from several neighboring districts.

At its peak in the late 19th century, the population was over 11,000. However, during the 20th century it declined and eventually the mine was abandoned, in 1964, and the steel-works in 1987. Today its economy is based on tourism.

Bessèges is home to the Étoile de Bessèges road bicycle race.

ee also

* Communes of the Gard department

References

"Based on the article in the French Wikipedia."

External links

* [http://www.citaenet.com/besseges/ Official website (in French)]