Assas, Hérault

Located just north of Montpellier, Assas lies near Saint-Vincent de Barbeyrargues, Guzargues, Clapiers, Jacou, Castries and Teyran. The region near Assas is primarily scrubland, but it is watered by a number of streams and brooks and has a small wooded area that produces mushrooms in the fall.

The village of Assas is organized around the Château d'Assas, located on a hill overlooking the small but quaint old village.

Map

The inhabitants are called Assadins.

• Château d'Assas, an 18th-century folie montpellierraine, designed by the architect Jean-Antoine Giral (1700–1787), was built in 1759/1760 on the ruins of a feudal castle. It is a private residence, but can be toured either by appointment or on national holidays. A historic 18th century harpsichord is preserved in the Château, a favoured instrument of harpsichordist Scott Ross (1951–1989), who died in Assas. At the beginning of the 1920s, Sir Patrick Geddes (born Ballater, Scotland 2 October 1854, died Montpellier, France 17 April 1932), the Scottish botanist, bought the Château d'Assas to set up a centre for urban studies, as an extension of the Collège des Ecossais which he founded in Montpellier in 1890.
  The château was used as a set in the filming of La Belle Noiseuse, a film by Jacques Rivette (1991).
• A church of the 11th or 12th century, completely restored at the beginning of the 21st century.
• Remains of the 10th or 11th century fortifications.
• Old village.

• Communes of the Hérault department

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Assas (Hérault).

• Commune d'Assas, official website
• Map of France locating Assas
• Assas photos – not an official site