Bessèges

Bessèges is a commune with 3042 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Gard in the Languedoc- Roussillon region.

Geography

It lies on the upper reaches of the valley of the tourist-oriented Céze, near Alès.

Bessèges forms the terminus of the small railway line Alès - Bessèges SNCF.

At the beginning of the 19th century Bessèges was just a hamlet in the parish of Robiac - Rochessadoule. The town grew in importance with the 1809 commenced coal mining. The under the influence of Paulin Talabot, begun in 1855 and completed on December 1, 1857 construction of the railway Alès - Bessèges connected the place with the French railway network and contributed significantly to its characteristically industrial boom. Bessèges 1868 capital of the canton and with more than 11 000 inhabitants, the third largest city of the Gard to Nimes and Ales. In addition to mining, there were at the end of the 19th century, a glass factory, a foundry and a metal factory. Soon after came the downturn. The glass factory closed in 1920, the foundry in 1922. 's Population decreased continuously up to currently around 3000 inhabitants. The place is now oriented tourism.