Mèze

Mèze

Mèze
Mèze is located in France
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Mèze
Administration
Country France
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Department Hérault
Arrondissement Montpellier
Canton Mèze
Intercommunality Nord du Bassin de Thau
Mayor Henry Fricou (Green)
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 0–75 m (0–246 ft)
(avg. 20 m/66 ft)
Land area1 34.59 km2 (13.36 sq mi)
Population2 7,630  (1999)
 - Density 221 /km2 (570 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 34157/ 34140
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 43°25′40″N 3°36′21″E / 43.4277777778°N 3.60583333333°E / 43.4277777778; 3.60583333333

Mèze (Phoenician: Mesua, in occitan Mesa) is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.

Its inhabitants are called Mézois.

Contents

Geography

Situated on the étang de Thau, Mèze shares with Bouzigues its historic role as the oyster capital of the area. Almost a third of its inhabitants depend on the fishing industry for their livelihood. In recent years, tourism and transport have become increasingly central to the local economy.

History

An important port since Phoenician times, Mèze has always primarily been a fishing town. During the Roman Empire, the town lay on the main Southern route from Italy to Spain - the 'Via Domitia'.The Romans brought wine to the area and left a legacy of architecture including two of the town's churches. The production of shellfish, especially oysters, has been the mainstay of the Mèze economy for almost a century and the whole Basin de Thau area has built an international reputation for the quality of its seafood.

Administration

Term Mayor of Mèze Party
1807–1815 Michel Privat
1815–1817 Charles de Borie
1817–1820 Pierre Ronzier
1820–1828 Louis Charamaule
1828–1840 François Bouliech
1840–1848 de Borie
1848-1848 Santy
1848–1849 Hippolyte Bouliech
1849-1849 Frédéric de Girard
1849–1850 Jules Molinier
1850–1851 François Besse
1851-1851 Sylla Lacroix
1851–1859 Constantin Bouliech
1859–1865 Adrien Lonjon
1865–1870 Gustave Privat
1870–1874 Antonin Bouliech
1874–1876 Emile Molinier
1876-1876 Jean-Baptiste Allègre
1876–1878 Jean-François Besse
1878-1878 Benjamin Durand
1878–1880 Jean-Baptiste Allègre
1880–1882 Emile Beaumadier
1882–1885 Jean-Baptiste Allègre
1885-1885 Vincent Germain
1885–1887 Jean-Baptiste Allègre
1887–1892 Guillaume Gros
1892–1901 Paulin Arnaud
1901–1904 Paul Enteric
1904–1912 Baptiste Guitard
1912–1921 Paul Enteric
1921–1922 Louis Brun
1922–1923 Camille Fraisse,
Charles Poujol,
François Vailhe		 délégation spéciale
1923–1925 Julien Granal
1925–1941 Méril Poujade
1941–1944 Thomas Bessiere délégation spéciale
1944–1947 Henri Bessède
1947–1971 André Montet
1971–1977 Georges Jean
1977–2001 Yves Pietrasanta Greens
2001-2001 Yvon Pibre
2001-- Henry Fricou

Demography

Census Year Population
1962 4546
1968 5005
1975 5508
1982 5742
1990 6502
1999 7630

Places of interest

Chapelle des Pénitents.
St-Jean-de-la-Garrigue - église romane.
  • Old village center
  • Port Mèze: both a working fishing harbor and a port for recreational boating.
  • Lagunage ecological site
  • Dinosaur Plain' palenthology museum.
  • Eglise Saint Hilaire
  • La Chapelle des Pénitents (12th century)
  • Le château de Girard (end of 17th century)
  • Remains of city walls
  • St-Jean-de-la-Garrigue, former parish church, built in romanesque style.

Famous residents

The singers Pierre Vassiliu and Christian Delagrange lived for many years in Mèze.

Festivals

  • Music Festival de Thau (annual),
  • A festival of traditional Boat Jousting is held each summer.

Traditions

  • The legendary bœuf de Mèze has become the animal symbol of the town.
  • The Balle au tambourin ball game.

External links



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