Alès

French commune
nomcommune=Alès

région=Languedoc-Roussillon
département=Gard
arrondissement=Alès
canton=
insee=30007
cp=30100
mairMax Roustan]
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Grand Alès en Cévennes
longitude=4.08166666667
latitude=44.1280555556
alt moy=150 m
alt mini=116 m
alt maxi=356 m
hectares=2,316
km²=23.16
sans=41,054
date-sans=2000
dens=1,700
date-dens=2000

Alès is a commune in southern France, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It is one of the sub-prefectures of the Gard department. It was formerly known as "Alais."

Geography

Alès lies 25 m. N.N.W. of Nîmes, on the left bank of the Gardon River, which half surrounds it. It is located at the foot of the Cévennes, near the Cévennes National Park.

History

In the 16th century Alès was an important Huguenot centre. In 1629 the town was taken by Louis XIII, and by the Peace of Alais the Huguenots gave up their right to "places de sûreté" (garrison towns) and other privileges. A bishopric was established there in 1694 but suppressed in 1790.

Historical population: 18,987 inhabitants in 1906.

Economy

Alès is the center of a mining district and hosts the École des mines d'Alès.

According to the "Encyclopædia Britannica" Eleventh Edition (1911)::"The town is one of the most important markets for raw silk and cocoons in the south of France, and the Gardon supplies power to numerous silk-mills. It is also the centre of a mineral field, which yields large quantities of coal, iron, zinc and lead; its blast-furnaces, foundries, glass-works and engineering works afford employment to many workmen."

ights

According to the "Encyclopædia Britannica" Eleventh Edition (1911)::"The streets are wide and its promenades and fine plane-trees make the town attractive; but the public buildings, the chief of which are the Saint-Jean-Baptiste cathedral, a heavy building of the 18th century, and the citadel, which serves as barracks and prison, are of small interest."

Historical scientists

:"Pasteur prosecuted his investigations into the silkworm disease (pébrine and flacherie) at Alès, and the town has dedicated a bust to his memory. There is also a statue of the chemist J.B. Dumas."

Miscellaneous

Births

Alès was the birthplace of:
* Rigord (c. 1150-c. 1209), chronicler (probable birthplace)
* Jean-Baptiste Dumas (1800-1884), chemist
* Louis Leprince-Ringuet (1901-2000), physicist
* Maurice André (born 1933), trumpeter, active in the classical music field
* Laurent Blanc (born 1965), football defender

Twin towns

Alès is twinned with:
* Bílina, Czech Republic
* Kilmarnock, Scotland

References

*

External links

* [http://www.ville-ales.fr/ City council website] (in French)
* [http://www.regordane.info The Regordane Way or St Gilles Trail, which starts in Alès]