Alès

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Ales.
"Alais" redirects here. For the Alais meteorite of 1806, see Meteorite falls.

Coordinates: 44°07′41″N 4°04′54″E / 44.1280555556, 4.08166666667

Commune of Alès

Alès Cathedral
Location
Alès (France)
Alès
Administration
Country France
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Department Gard
Arrondissement Alès
Intercommunality Grand Alès en Cévennes
Statistics
Elevation 116 m–356 m
(avg. 150 m)
Land area¹ 23.16 km²
Population²
(2000)		 41,054
 - Density 1,700/km² (2000)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 30007/ 30100
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France
Fountain
Fountain
Statue of Pasteur
Statue of Pasteur

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.

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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."

[edit] Sights

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."

[edit] 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."

[edit] Miscellaneous

[edit] Births

Alès was the birthplace of:

[edit] Twin towns

Alès is twinned with:

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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