Sommières
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Commune of Sommières |
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| Location | |
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Department | Gard |
| Arrondissement | Nîmes |
| Canton | Sommières |
| Intercommunality | Pays de Sommières |
| Mayor | Guy Marotte (2004-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 19 m–106 m (avg. 34 m) |
| Land area¹ | 10.36 km² |
| Population² (2006) |
4,505 |
| - Density | 434/km² (2006) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 30321/ 30250 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
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Sommières is a village and commune in France, situated in the Gard département in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, 22 km from Nîmes, 28 km from Montpellier.
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[edit] Geography
Sommières is to the south of the garrigues and on the edge of the Vaunage, a wine growing region. It straddles the River Vidourle.
[edit] History
The village grew in the protection of the castle. It was annexed into the French kingdom by King Louis X in 1248, following the crusade against the Albigensiens. It became a protestant stronghold, and it was besieged by the catholic Louis XIII in 1622. It has always been prone to flooding, and as recently as 2002 the River Vidourle flooded, causing major damage to the town and properties along the bank. This time it washed out the Champion supermarket, which in 2007 is still awaiting repair. The floods are called 'vidourlades'.[1]
[edit] Sights
The village has a Roman bridge, a medieval centre, a fortified gate and the ruins of a castle.
The Roman bridge is 190m long, it was built on the instructions of Emperor Tiberius at the start of the 1st century. It was restored and lengthened in the 18th century. [2]At the town end of the bridge is the gothic town gate known as the 'Tour de l'Horloge'.[1]. Only 7 of the 19 arches can be seen, the others lie beneath the town where they act as cellars.
The ancient Roman road leads from the gate, along the Grande Rue to the 'Marché-Haut' or Place Jean Jaurès, the old wheat market. Here it turns left and leaves the town heading to Alès, and Nîmes.[1]
[edit] Miscellaneous
Sommières used to be a centre for leather and linen.[1]
The writer Lawrence Durrell lived in Sommières from 1966 to 1990.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Guide Michelin, Gorges du Tarn Cévennes Languedoc, 2nd edition 1994 ISBN 2-06-033702-X
- ^ Structurae:The Bridge
[edit] External links
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