Frontignan

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For the French wine grape also known as Frontignan, see Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. For the California wine grape also known Frontignan, see Burger (grape).
Frontignan
Frontignan la Peyrade
Town hall

Coat of arms
Frontignan
Coordinates: 43°26′54″N 3°45′22″E / 43.4483°N 3.7561°E / 43.4483; 3.7561Coordinates: 43°26′54″N 3°45′22″E / 43.4483°N 3.7561°E / 43.4483; 3.7561
Country France
Region Languedoc-Roussillon
Department Hérault
Arrondissement Montpellier
Canton Frontignan
Intercommunality Bassin de Thau
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Pierre Bouldoire (PS)
Area
 • Land1 31.72 km2 (12.25 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 • Population2 23,169
 • Population2 Density 730/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 34108 / 34110
Elevation 0–223 m (0–732 ft)
(avg. 2 m or 6.6 ft)

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.

Frontignan-la Peyrade (French pronunciation: ​[fʁɔ̃.ti.ɲɑ̃.la.pɛ'ʁad]) (Occitan: Frontinhan) is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.

Frontignan is renowned for its AOC wine, the Muscat de Frontignan, a sweet wine made solely from the Muscat grape variety.

Map

Geography

View from La Gardiole Mountain.

Frontignan is located in the Languedoc coastal plain between the towns of Sète and Montpellier.

The town is surrounded by the Gardiole mountain range in the north, the Ingril lagoon in the east, the Étang de Thau in the west and the Mediterranean shore (including the beach resort Frontignan-Plage) in the south.

The Rhône-Sète canal separates the inland town centre and Frontignan-Plage.

History

Population

Historical population of Frontignan
Year1793180018061821183118361841184618511856
Population1100141613981491187718441966192621292077
Year1861186618721876188118861891189619011906
Population2574300032253537316433263603390244704668
Year191119211926193119361946195419621968
Population5174528354835859624360966998830911,141
Year19751982199019992008
Population12,23814,95116,24519,14523,169

Sights

The beach at Frontignan-Plage.
  • Old town centre with remains of the fortress dating back to the 14th century
  • Saint-Paul's Church (in parts 12th century)
  • The Penitents' chapel (including the city's museum)
  • Maison Poulation (early 20th century)
  • Château Stony
  • Château de la Peyrade
  • La Peyrade bridge (17th century)
  • Yacht port
  • Natural reserve beaches
  • Aresquiers naturtal reserve
  • Argeliès caves

Economy

Les Crozes Neighbourhood from Les Salins.

Until the early 20th century the local economy was based on the production of marine salt and wine. Later petro-chemical and chemical industries predominate with a steady decline in the 1980s. The oil refinery that opened in 1900 was converted to a simple depot in 1986.

Since the end of the 20th century modern fisheries and high tech plastics take over. Seasonal tourism is a dominant part of the local economy.

Important businesses in Frontignan include:

  • Distrisud S.A.
  • Indubois S.A.S.
  • Hexis S.A.
  • Barba S.A.S.
  • Frontignan Coopérative S.C.A.
  • Mobil Concepts s.à.r.l.

Culture

  • Frontignan is the home town of the writer Maurice Clavel.
  • Every year since 1998 Frontignan organises the annual Festival International du Roman Noir.
  • Bull fighting and river jousting are the traditional sports.

International relations

Frontignan is twinned with:

See also

References

    External links

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