Marvejols

Marvejols

The Porte de Chanelles

Coat of arms
Marvejols

Coordinates: 44°33′15″N 3°17′27″E / 44.5542°N 3.2908°E / 44.5542; 3.2908Coordinates: 44°33′15″N 3°17′27″E / 44.5542°N 3.2908°E / 44.5542; 3.2908
Country France
Region Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées
Department Lozère
Arrondissement Mende
Canton Marvejols
Intercommunality Gévaudan
Government
  Mayor (20012008) Jean Roujon
Area1 12.45 km2 (4.81 sq mi)
Population (1999)2 5,501
  Density 440/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 48092 / 48100
Elevation 632–918 m (2,073–3,012 ft)
(avg. 640 m or 2,100 ft)

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.

Marvejols (Occitan: Maruèjols), is a commune in the Lozère department in southern France.

Its inhabitants are known as Marvejolais.

Geography

The commune is located in the Massif central. The Colagne flows southward through the middle of the commune and crosses the town.

History

A medieval city exemplifying the Occitan culture, Marvejols was strengthened during the Hundred Years War against the English.

Following the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, the town walls were reinforced to protect the Huguenot population during the French Wars of Religion, Protestant Capt. Matthieu Merle based himself at Marvejols during his conquest of the Gévaudan.

But, having sided with the then Protestant Henri of Navarre, the future King Henry IV of France, the town was besieged and burned to the ground by the Catholics. Henry had it rebuilt in 1601 in recognition of the town's support for him.

Population

Population history
1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999
393444905296557354765501
Census count starting from 1962 : Population without double counting

Monuments and sights

Soubeyran, the south gate

Despite some 17th-century repairs, it still keeps its medieval charm.

Notre Dame de la Carce

Culture

Espoir Oc (Hope for Oc) is an association founded about twenty years ago, to promote and develop the Occitan language and culture. Based in Marvejols, they organize, on the first weekend of July, a festival based on the theme of the Middle Ages. Two big events take place; on the Saturday evening a great banquet consisting entirely of regional produce, finishing with a dance; on the Sunday morning, the mass is said in Occitan.

Notable people

In popular culture

The latter part of the story in the movie Betty Blue takes place in Marvejols.

Twin town

Sri Lanka, Colombo

Cockermouth, UK

See also

Notes

    External links

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