Mèze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Commune of Mèze |
|
Location | |
Administration | |
---|---|
Country | France |
Region | Languedoc-Roussillon |
Department | Hérault |
Arrondissement | Montpellier |
Canton | Mèze |
Intercommunality | Communauté de communes du Nord du Bassin de Thau |
Mayor | Henry Fricou (2001-2008) |
Statistics | |
Elevation | 0 m–75 m (avg. 20 m) |
Land area¹ | 34.59 km² |
Population² (1999) |
7,630 |
- Density | 220/km² (1999) |
Miscellaneous | |
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 sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Mèze (Phoenecian: Mesua, in occitan Mesa) is a French commune, in the département of Hérault and the région of Languedoc-Roussillon. Its inhabitants are called Mézois.
Contents |
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 |
[edit] Demography
Census Year | Population |
---|---|
1962 | 4546 |
1968 | 5005 |
1975 | 5508 |
1982 | 5742 |
1990 | 6502 |
1999 | 7630 |
[edit] Places of Interest
- 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 (XIIth century)
- Le château de Girard (end of XVIIth century)
- Remains of city walls
- St-Jean-de-la-Garrigue, former parish church, built in romanesque style.
[edit] Famous residents
The singers Pierre Vassiliu and Christian Delagrange lived for many years in Mèze.
[edit] Festivals
- Music Festival de Thau (annual),
- A festival of traditional Boat Jousting is held each summer.
[edit] Traditions
- The legendary bœuf de Mèze has become the animal symbol of the town.
- The Balle au tambourin ball game.
[edit] External links
- (French) Mèze sur le site de l'Institut géographique national
- (French) Mèze sur le site de l'Insee
- (French) Mèze sur le site du Quid
- (French) Localisation de Mèze sur une carte de France et communes limitrophes
- (French) Plan de Mèze sur Mapquest
- (French) Site officiel de la ville
- (French) Festival de Thau