Marvejols

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Coordinates: 44°33′15″N 3°17′27″E / 44.55417, 3.29083

Commune of Marvejols

Location
Marvejols (France)
Marvejols
Administration
Country France
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Department Lozère
Arrondissement Mende
Canton Marvejols
(chef-lieu)
Intercommunality Communauté de communes du Gévaudan
Mayor Jean Roujon
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 632 m–918 m
(avg. 640 m)
Land area¹ 12,45 km²
Population²
(1999)
5 501
 - Density 442/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 48092/ 48100
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

Marvejols (in occitan Maruèjols), is a commune in the Lozère département in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Its inhabitants are known as Marvejolais.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Nestling in the Massif central on the river Colagne.

[edit] History

A medieval city exemplifying the Occitan culture, Marvejols was strengthened during the Hundred Years War against the English. Following the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, the town walls were reinforced to protect the Huguenot population during the French Wars of Religion, Protestant Capt. Matthieu Merle based himself at Marvejols during his conquest of the Gévaudan. But, having sided with the then Protestant Henri of Navarre, the future King Henry IV of France, the town was besieged and burned to the ground by the Catholics. Henry had it rebuilt in 1601 in recognition of the town’s support for him.

[edit] Population

Population Growth
1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999
3934 4490 5296 5573 5476 5501
Census count starting from 1962 : Population without double counting

[edit] Monuments and sights

Soubeyran, the south gate
Soubeyran, the south gate
  • La porte du Soubeyran, a town gateway dating from the 14th century.

Despite some 17th century repairs, it still keeps its medieval charm.

Notre Dame de la Carce
Notre Dame de la Carce


  • Notre Dame de la Carce dating from the end of the 13th century, becoming collegiate in 1310.


[edit] Others

  • Two large bronze sculptures by Emmanuel Auricoste can be seen at two of the entrances to Marvejols. One represents the mythical Beast of Gévaudan, the other, that of Henry IV of France, inscribed “exécuté à Marvejols en 1954” (Executed in 1954), which refers, of course, to the date of the sculpture, not the King’s demise.
  • The wolf park of Gévaudan: Over 100 wolves live in a semi-natural state in an area of hills above Marvejols, once renown for the animals.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Espoir Oc

Croix occitane

Espoir Oc (Hope for Oc) is an association founded about twenty years ago, to promote and develop the Occitan language and culture. Based in Marvejols, they organize, on the first weekend of July, a festival based on the theme of the Middle Ages. Two big events take place; on the Saturday evening a great banquet comprising entirely of regional produce, finishing with a dance; on the Sunday morning, the mass is said in Occitan.

[edit] Noted local people

  • Rock band Subway is made up of four women, all originally from Marvejols.
  • Gilbert de Chambrun, Mayor (1953-1965).
  • Armand Blanquet du Chayla, French admiral.

[edit] Twinned with

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes


[edit] See also

Communes of the Lozère département