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Hérault (; oc, Erau, ) is a
INSEE
Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc.
At the beginning of the 20th century, viticulture in the
department
Department may refer to:
* Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility
Government and military
*Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
of the region of Occitania
Occitania ( oc, Occità nia , , or ) is the historical region in Western Europe, Western and Southern Europe where the Occitan language, Occitan language was historically spoken and where it is sometimes still used as a second language. This ...
, Southern France
Southern France, also known as the South of France or colloquially in French language, French as , is a defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,Louis Papy, ''Le midi ...
. Named after the Hérault River
Hérault (; oc, Erau, ) is a department of the region of Occitania, Southern France. Named after the Hérault River, its prefecture is Montpellier. It had a population of 1,175,623 in 2019.prefecture
A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...
is Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
. It had a population of 1,175,623 in 2019.Populations légales 2019: 34 HéraultINSEE
History
Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc.
At the beginning of the 20th century, viticulture in the wine-growing region
This list of wine-producing regions catalogues significant growing regions where vineyards are planted. Wine grapes mostly grow between the 30th and the 50th degree of latitude, in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Grapes will sometimes ...
was devastated by a slump in sales combined with disease affecting the vines. Thousands of small scale producers revolted. This revolt was suppressed very harshly by the government of Georges Clemenceau.
The catastrophic frost of the winter of 1956 damaged the olive trees, and the olive-growing regions did not recover until the late 1980s. Many of the olive-industry co-ops closed.
During the second half of the twentieth century the Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
basin saw some of the most rapid population growth in France.
Geography
Hérault is part of the ''region'' ofOccitanie Occitanie may refer to:
*Occitania, a region in southern France called ''Occitanie'' in French
*Occitania (administrative region)
Occitania ( ; french: Occitanie ; oc, Occità nia ; ca, Occità nia ) is the southernmost administrative region of ...
and is surrounded by the departments of Aude
Aude (; ) is a Departments of France, department in Southern France, located in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region and named after the river Aude (river), Aude. The departmental council also calls it "Ca ...
, Tarn, Aveyron, Gard
Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Gulf of Lion) on the south. The department is geographically very diverse, with beaches in the south, the Cévennes mountains in the north, and agricultural land in between. The territory of Hérault is often described as an open amphitheater facing the sea. The geography of Hérault is marked by the diversity of its geology and its landscapes. These range from the southern foothills of the Massif Central, to the Mediterranean Sea, through the areas of garrigue and the low plain of Languedoc wine. Hérault has a Mediterranean climate.
The minimum elevation is at sea level and the highest point of the department is at an elevation of 1181m in one of the peaks of the Espinouse. The average elevation is about 227m.
The department of Hérault is crossed by several rivers that originate in the southern foothills of the Massif Central and empty into the Mediterranean Sea, flowing more-or-less from north to south over a relatively short distance from high elevation. The main rivers flowing from east to west are the Vidourle, which marks the limit with the
The department of Hérault is crossed by several rivers that originate in the southern foothills of the Massif Central and empty into the Mediterranean Sea, flowing more-or-less from north to south over a relatively short distance from high elevation. The main rivers flowing from east to west are the Vidourle, which marks the limit with the Gard
Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Lesz, which flows through
*The totemic animals of Herault are typical. During cultural events or local votive festivals, many towns or villages parade a totemic animal representing their municipality through the streets, often accompanied by the sound of traditional musical instruments, such as the Languedoc oboe or fife. The most well-known is the "Foal of Pézenas", which UNESCO proclaimed as part of the
The vineyards of Hérault are very old, dating from before the founding of
File:34120 Pézenas, France - panoramio (2).jpg, Gambetta square in Pézenas
File:Houseboat Canal du Midi Poilhes-DSC 0082.jpg, Houseboat on the
Prefecture website
*
Departmental Council website
*
*
Official tourist office website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herault 1790 establishments in France Departments of Occitania (administrative region) Massif Central States and territories established in 1790
Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
; the Hérault, which gave its name to the department, and the Orb
Orb or Orbs may refer to:
* Sphere
* Globus Cruciger Ceremonial Orb
Places and rivers
* Orb (river), in southern France
* Orb (Kinzig), a tributary of the Kinzig river in Germany
* Bad Orb, a town in Hesse, Germany
Literature, radio, film, ...
, which flows through Béziers
Béziers (; oc, Besièrs) is a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Hérault Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of Southern France. Every August Béziers hos ...
. To the west, the Aude
Aude (; ) is a Departments of France, department in Southern France, located in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region and named after the river Aude (river), Aude. The departmental council also calls it "Ca ...
, a 224 km-long river flowing from the Pyrenees, has a course oriented west–east and marks the boundary between Hérault and the neighbouring department of Aude. These rivers as well as their tributaries take their character from the region's 'cévénol' climate, with sudden variations of flow causing sudden floods. Lagoons are found along the coast of Herault, the largest of which is the Étang de Thau, with an area of about 7,500 hectares.
The hinterland of the lowlands of Bas-Languedoc is gradually hilly. It is the territory of the vineyard, olive groves, orchards and scrubland. Olive growing and viticulture symbolize an important part of the Mediterranean heritage and lifestyle.
The area of Hérault near the town of Lodève is the geographical antipode point of Chatham Island off the east coast of New Zealand.
Principal towns
The most populous commune isMontpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
, the prefecture. The least populated municipality is Romiguières
Romiguières (; oc, Romiguièiras) is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Hérault department
The following is a list of the 342 communes of the Hérault de ...
with 21 inhabitants in 2019. As of 2019, there are 7 communes with more than 20,000 inhabitants:
Climate
The vast majority of the department can be characterized as a Mediterranean climate. However, the mountainous areas of the northwest have an oceanic influence. Some sectors of northern Herault have a temperate continental influence. The average temperature of the summer months is close to the maximum French average. Nevertheless, the sea protects the coastal areas from the extremes of heat waves in summer, but also frosts in winter. They range from about 27 degrees Celsius on the seashore to 32 degrees Celsius inland. Mean minimum temperatures also vary, ranging from about 19 degrees Celsius on the coast to 15 degrees Celsius in the interior.Demographics
The inhabitants of the department are called ''Héraultais''. Population development since 1791:Culture
Language
The historical language is Occitan.Totem animals and local festivals
*The totemic animals of Herault are typical. During cultural events or local votive festivals, many towns or villages parade a totemic animal representing their municipality through the streets, often accompanied by the sound of traditional musical instruments, such as the Languedoc oboe or fife. The most well-known is the "Foal of Pézenas", which UNESCO proclaimed as part of the intangible cultural heritage
An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Buildings, historic places, monuments, and artifacts are cultural property. Int ...
, being an example of the Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France
The processional giants and dragons (french: Géants et dragons processionnels) of Belgium and France are a set of folkloric manifestations involving processional giants, which have been inscribed by UNESCO on the lists of Intangible Cultural ...
.
*Béziers
Béziers (; oc, Besièrs) is a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Hérault Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of Southern France. Every August Béziers hos ...
festivals : Fèsta d'Oc, Béziers's Feria
*Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
festivals : I Love Techno Europe, Mediterranean Film Festival, Comédie du Livre, Montpellier Dance Festival, International Festival of Extreme Sports (FISE)
*Cazouls-lès-Béziers
Cazouls-lès-Béziers (, literally ''Cazouls near Béziers''; Languedocien: ''Cà sols de Besièrs'') is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.
Geography
The town of Cazouls lès Béziers is situated 15 kilometres north of the c ...
festival : Festival Piano Prestige, artistic director Jean-Bernard Pommier
Jean-Bernard Pommier (born 17 August 1944 in Beziers), is a French pianist and conductor.
Early life and education
Jean-Bernard Pommier began playing the piano at the age of four and gave his first public concert at the age of seven. He had ...
* Pézenas festivals : Printival Boby Lapointe, Mirondela dels Arts
*Sète
Sète (; oc, Seta, ), also historically spelt ''Cette'' (official until 1928) and ''Sette'', is a commune in the Hérault department, in the region of Occitania, southern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Sétois'' (male) and ''Sétoises' ...
festivals : Sète's Jazz Festival, Documentary Photo Festival "ImageSingulieres", Poetry Festival "Vivid Voice of the Mediterranean in the Mediterranean"
Heritage
TheCanal du Midi
The Canal du Midi (; ) is a long canal in Southern France (french: le Midi). Originally named the ''Canal royal en Languedoc'' (Royal Canal in Languedoc) and renamed by French revolutionaries to ''Canal du Midi'' in 1789, the canal is considere ...
has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Economy
Agriculture
185,048 hectares (nearly 30%) of land in Hérault is used for agriculture. Viticulture is the most important, with 85,525 hectares. The cultivation of cereals uses 20,095 hectares, grazing 7,090 hectares, 4,991 hectares are left fallow, 3,788 hectares are devoted to the cultivation of vegetables, and 3,400 hectares for orchards (olives, chestnuts, walnuts, plums, apples).Viticulture
The vineyards of Hérault are very old, dating from before the founding of Gallia Narbonensis
Gallia Narbonensis (Latin for "Gaul of Narbonne", from its chief settlement) was a Roman province located in what is now Languedoc and Provence, in Southern France. It was also known as Provincia Nostra ("Our Province"), because it was the ...
. Hérault is today the second French wine department, after the Gironde
Gironde ( US usually, , ; oc, Gironda, ) is the largest department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southwestern France. Named after the Gironde estuary, a major waterway, its prefecture is Bordeaux. In 2019, it had a population of 1,62 ...
, representing 14% of the total area of the department. The department has a favorable climate, excellent exposure, a wide variety of soils and many varieties of grape: all these assets result in generous, sometimes robust, wines with a wide aromatic palette
* AOC : Saint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian (; oc, Sanch Inhan) is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France. The town was the birthplace of the great tenor Agustarello Affre (1858–1931). He is commemorated by a plaque on the house ...
, Faugères, Minervois
Minervois is an AOC in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region, in the departments of the Aude and of the Herault. Historically, the region's capital has been the village of Minerve.
AOC regulations require the wine to be blended (at least 2 variet ...
, Coteaux-du-languedoc, Clairette du Languedoc
Languedoc-Roussillon wine, including the ''vin de pays'' labeled ''Vin de Pays d'Oc'', is produced in southern France. While "Languedoc" can refer to a specific historic region of France and Northern Catalonia, usage since the 20th century (espe ...
, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat de Lunel
Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total population of Muscat Governorate was ...
, Muscat de Mireval
Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the Capital (political), capital and most populated city in Oman. It is the seat of the Muscat (governorate), Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the t ...
, Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois
Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total population of Muscat Governorate was ...
and Picpoul de Pinet
Aquaculture
In Hérault, the cultivation of shellfish produces 8,300 tons of oysters (10% of the national production) and 5,900 tons of mussels a year. The Étang de Thau is a centre for growing mussels and oysters in the Mediterranean. At Bouzigues, oysters are cultivated on permanently-immersed, raised breeding.Politics
Composition of the departmental council
The president of the Departmental Council isKléber Mesquida
Kléber Mesquida (born 3 August 1945) was a member of the National Assembly of France. He represented the Hérault department, and is a member of the Socialiste, radical, citoyen et divers gauche
The Socialists and affiliated group (french: ...
of the Socialist Party.
Current National Assembly Representatives
List of successive presidents
Sport
Baseball
Basketball
Beach soccer
Football
Handball
Volley-ball
Rugby
Water polo
Specific sports
There are several sports specific to Hérault: tamburello (85% of players are French) and water jousting.Tourism
Tourist attractions
*87 km of beaches *3 World Heritage Sites :Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert Abbey
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert Abbey or Gellone Abbey is a Benedictine abbey in Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Hérault in France. It was founded in 804 by an Aquitanian aristocrat of the Carolingian era, William of Gellone (c. 742-812), known in Occitan as ...
, Canal du Midi
The Canal du Midi (; ) is a long canal in Southern France (french: le Midi). Originally named the ''Canal royal en Languedoc'' (Royal Canal in Languedoc) and renamed by French revolutionaries to ''Canal du Midi'' in 1789, the canal is considere ...
and Causses and Cévennes
The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape (french: Les Causses et Les Cévennes, paysage culturel de l'agro-pastoralisme méditerranéen) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the southern part of central F ...
*2 Great sites in France : Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and Gorges de l'Hérault and Cirque de Navacelles
210px, Here the magnificence of the valley is shown. The river's meandering erosion is clear.
The Cirque de Navacelles is large erosional landform, an incised meander, located towards the southern edge of the Massif Central mountain range in Fran ...
*1 Regional nature park : Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park
*2 Towns and Lands of Art and History : Pézenas and Lodève
*3 villages listed in the Most Beautiful Villages of France : Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Olargues
Olargues () is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France. It is rated as one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Olargues is a good example of a French Medieval town. It was occupied by the Romans, the ...
and Minerve
*2 coastal resorts classified Heritage of the twentieth century : La Grande-Motte
La Grande-Motte (; oc, La Mota Granda) is a commune in the Hérault département in Occitanie in southern France. It is a popular seaside resort and port, built in the 1960s and 1970s. La Grande-Motte is characterized by homogeneous architecture ...
and Cap d'Agde
*3 Spa town : Balaruc-les-Bains, Avène
Avène (; Languedocien: ''Avèna'') is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
Population
Avène Thermal Spring Water
A Hydrotherapy Centre was built near the Sainte-Odile spring in 1743 , and focuses ...
and Lamalou-les-Bains
Lamalou-les-Bains (; Languedocien: ''L’Amalon'') is a commune in the Hérault département in the Occitanie region in southern France.
Geography
Lamalou-les-Bains is located 53½ miles west of Montpellier in the Orb valley of the southern Cà ...
*19 marinas
*541 sites classified or listed as historic monuments
Part of Cap d'Agde is a major nudist resort. Cruising along the Canal du Midi
The Canal du Midi (; ) is a long canal in Southern France (french: le Midi). Originally named the ''Canal royal en Languedoc'' (Royal Canal in Languedoc) and renamed by French revolutionaries to ''Canal du Midi'' in 1789, the canal is considere ...
and walking or cycling along the tow paths is a common holiday activity.
Canal du Midi
The Canal du Midi (; ) is a long canal in Southern France (french: le Midi). Originally named the ''Canal royal en Languedoc'' (Royal Canal in Languedoc) and renamed by French revolutionaries to ''Canal du Midi'' in 1789, the canal is considere ...
File:Chateau d'Eau du Peyrou.jpg, Promenade du Peyrou in Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
File:Avène.JPG, View of Avène
Avène (; Languedocien: ''Avèna'') is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
Population
Avène Thermal Spring Water
A Hydrotherapy Centre was built near the Sainte-Odile spring in 1743 , and focuses ...
File:Presqu'île du Rouens, Clermont-l'Hérault 02.jpg, The "Lac du Salagou"
File:File by Alexander Baranov - (19410989012).jpg, Kayaking on the Orb
Orb or Orbs may refer to:
* Sphere
* Globus Cruciger Ceremonial Orb
Places and rivers
* Orb (river), in southern France
* Orb (Kinzig), a tributary of the Kinzig river in Germany
* Bad Orb, a town in Hesse, Germany
Literature, radio, film, ...
File:Crique de l'Anau, Sète, Hérault 02.jpg, Crique de l'Anau in Sète
Sète (; oc, Seta, ), also historically spelt ''Cette'' (official until 1928) and ''Sette'', is a commune in the Hérault department, in the region of Occitania, southern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Sétois'' (male) and ''Sétoises' ...
See also
* Cantons of the Hérault department * Communes of the Hérault department * Arrondissements of the Hérault department * Castles in HéraultReferences
External links
*Prefecture website
*
Departmental Council website
*
*
Official tourist office website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herault 1790 establishments in France Departments of Occitania (administrative region) Massif Central States and territories established in 1790