Lodève

Lodève

The iron bridge in Lodève

Coat of arms
Lodève

Coordinates: 43°43′57″N 3°19′13″E / 43.7325°N 3.3203°E / 43.7325; 3.3203Coordinates: 43°43′57″N 3°19′13″E / 43.7325°N 3.3203°E / 43.7325; 3.3203
Country France
Region Occitanie
Department Hérault
Arrondissement Lodève
Canton Lodève
Intercommunality Lodévois
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Marie-Christine Bousquet (PS)
Area1 23.17 km2 (8.95 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 7,345
 • Density 320/km2 (820/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 34142 / 34700
Elevation 117–700 m (384–2,297 ft)
(avg. 165 m or 541 ft)
Website http://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.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

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.

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[1] 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 Volque tribe (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

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 which are always well worth a visit. 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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sometimes excessively hot. The canicule of 2003 saw temperatures in excess of 40 °C (104 °F), causing many deaths
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