Pézenas

Pezenas ( Occitan: Pesenaç, Pesenàs ) is a French town with 8290 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Hérault in the Languedoc- Roussillon region. It is the seat of the administration of the canton of the same.

Geography

Pezenas is located in the Languedoc- Roussillon region, between Beziers (23 km) and Montpellier ( 63 km), in the valley of the Hérault, near the mouth of its right tributary Peyne.

History

The establishment of Pezenas is 300 BC. The place name derives from the Latin Piscenae and also is related to the river Peyne. Pezenas was in the 16th and 17th centuries the seat of government and residence of the governor of Languedoc. Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, Pezenas made ​​to the " Versailles of the Languedoc ".

Attractions

  • The historic old town with its listed buildings and hotels from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
  • The famous city theater, which was built around 1830 in the classical style from an empty church. The Comédie- Française has been here many guest performances. The theater has been vacant for decades, but there are efforts to restore and reopen.
  • The museum Vulliod Saint -Germain, the collections of the city's history summarizes, including a room devoted to Molière.

Regular events

  • Mardi Gras ( Fat Tuesday ): The Poulain de Pezenas ( foals of Pezenas ) pulls, accompanied by the population, dancing through the city.
  • February: Film Festival Rencontre Cinematographique.
  • In mid-April: The cultural festival in memory of Boby Lapointe Printival.
  • Reconstitution Historique: Every second or third year can Pezenas on a weekend in the spring of a selected period of its history back to life.
  • 20 June: participation in the Fête de la musique with several stages in the European Music Day.
  • 21 June: early summer it is committed in the course of La Gambetta the Fête de Saint Jean.
  • Marché du Samedi: The year-round farmer's market every Saturday attracts many visitors to the city.
  • La Miro Delaware dels Arts: During the summer months are in the medieval Old Town countless small shops and galleries selling crafts and finding all sorts, supported by restaurants and boutiques. In July and August, this supports a broad cultural program the craft and the art. Every Wednesday and Friday evenings takes place the Nocturne. On these days, the business of the old city are open until midnight and traditionally there will be music and a variety of other performances in the squares and streets to see.
  • October: Festival International de l'image of the profession concerned with the work of young filmmakers.
  • Flea market twice a year (May / October ) along the main road that runs through Pezenas ( former Route National N113 ).
  • Fair in November.

Personalities

  • Molière ( Jean- Baptiste Poquelin ) ( 1622-1673 ) visited Pezenas with its illustrated theater.
  • Gabriel François Venel (1723-1775) chemist who invented the water of Seltz.
  • Dom Bedos (1709-1779) visited the School of Oratory in Pezenas.
  • Paul Vidal de la Blache, geographer, father of modern French geography, born 1845 in Pezenas.
  • Edmond Charlot (1915-2004), discoverer of Albert Camus and " editor of La France libre during the year 1940 until 1980.
  • Boby Lapointe (Robert Lapointe ), French singer, born in 1922 in Pezenas, Pezenas died in 1972.
  • Louis Paulhan (1883-1963), pioneer of aviation, Seaplane Pilot Patent n ° 10, designer and owner of several records.
  • Alain Robert, French Free Climber, lives in Pezenas.
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