Lodève

Lodève (French pronunciation: ​[lɔdɛv]; Occitan: Lodeva pronounced [luˈðevɔ]) is a commune in the Hérault département in the Occitanie region in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. The derivation of the city's name is from Gaulish Luteva, composed of lut-, swamp, mud + suffix -eva. It might therefore translate as the muddy place or the swamp city. This mud could be in fact this sort of clay, called argillite, which was use during ancient history to produce pottery.

Lodève
Subprefecture and commune
The iron bridge in Lodève
Coat of arms
Location of Lodève
Lodève
Lodève
Coordinates: 43°43′57″N 3°19′13″E
CountryFrance
RegionOccitanie
DepartmentHérault
ArrondissementLodève
CantonLodève
IntercommunalityLodévois
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Gaëlle Lévêque (DVG)
Area
1
23.17 km2 (8.95 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
7,441
 • Density320/km2 (830/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Lodèvois
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
34142 /34700
Elevation117–700 m (384–2,297 ft)
(avg. 165 m or 541 ft)
Websitehttp://www.lodeve.com
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography
Map

Lodève lies where the plains rise up to the Larzac plateau, 54 km (34 mi) from Montpellier, in the valley of the Lergue river where that river is joined by the smaller Soulondre. It is surrounded by green hills and vineyards and lies only 8 km (5.0 mi) from the large man-made Lac du Salagou.

Climate

Lodève enjoys a mostly mediterranean climate, with the hot summers[2] that allow plentiful viticulture. Violent storms and torrential rain are frequently seen in late summer, leading to flooding and the muds and swamps that gave the city its name.

History

Lodève started as the capital of a tribe of the Volcae, the Lutevani, before becoming the Roman city Luteva (also known as Forum Neronis). The town was a stopping point on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela via the Arles road. An episcopal city until the French Revolution, it was also a centre for textile production under Louis XV and was home to one of only two royal manufactories for tapestry, the other being the one of the Gobelins in Paris.

More recently, the area was the centre of a firm resistance against the Nazi occupation during the Second World War.

Sights
Stained glass in Lodève cathedral
  • Lodève Cathedral Cathédrale Saint-Fulcran de Lodève), parts of which date from the sixth century.
  • Museum Fleury (temporary art exhibitions (mainly paintings) and archeology permanent collection).
  • Halle Dardé, dedicated to local sculptor Paul Dardé.
  • L'Atelier national du tapis de Lodève, the French state carpet-making workshop (visits arranged by Tourist Office, Lodève).

In the vicinity:

Culture

Throughout the year, the town hosts a varied programme of festivities and events both cultural and sporting, as well as all sorts of markets. In recent years, the Museum Art Gallery has gained national acclaim for its major art exhibitions.

The "Voix de la Méditerranée" poetry festival, established in 1998 takes place every July for around 9 days. Poets, musicians and writers come from many different countries on the Mediterranean to share their culture through poetry readings, concerts and other cultural events. This is considered a very special festival for poetry and is enjoyable for all.

The annual "Fête de St. Fulcran", the patron saint of the town takes place in May and includes the procession of the saint's relics and a funfair.

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
17937,906—    
18007,449−5.8%
18068,317+11.7%
18219,056+8.9%
18319,919+9.5%
183611,208+13.0%
184110,477−6.5%
184610,718+2.3%
185111,238+4.9%
185612,765+13.6%
186111,864−7.1%
186610,571−10.9%
18729,464−10.5%
187610,528+11.2%
188110,185−3.3%
18869,532−6.4%
18919,060−5.0%
18968,416−7.1%
19018,200−2.6%
19067,395−9.8%
19117,668+3.7%
19216,508−15.1%
19266,629+1.9%
19317,020+5.9%
19366,135−12.6%
19466,242+1.7%
19546,426+2.9%
19626,869+6.9%
19687,556+10.0%
19757,910+4.7%
19828,378+5.9%
19907,602−9.3%
19996,900−9.2%
20087,345+6.4%

Lodève has a fairly large Algerian (see pied noir, harki) population, the first generation of which fought for the French and were housed here after the Algerian Civil War.

Transportation

The town lies on the A75 autoroute about 30 minutes south of the new Millau viaduct, the highest bridge in the world.

Personalities

Lodève was the birthplace of:

Economy

The town houses a famous carpet-manufacturing company, part of the national Savonnerie, which once supplied large, exquisite carpets to the French royal family, and still today produces hand made carpets for State buildings.

Viticulture, focussed on the Carignan grape variety, is a major industry. The climate is also favourable for fruit production, and the region's peaches, apricots, melons and tomatoes are prized.

International relations

Lodève is twinned with South Kirkby and Moorthorpe, UK and Gjakova, Kosovo.

See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Sometimes excessively hot. The canicule of 2003 saw temperatures in excess of 40 °C (104 °F), causing many deaths
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.