Mèze

Mèze (French pronunciation: [mɛz]; Occitan: Mesa; Phoenician: Mansa) is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.

Mèze
Commune
Harbour
Harbour
Coat of arms of Mèze
Coat of arms
Location of Mèze
Mèze is located in France
Mèze
Mèze
Mèze is located in Occitanie
Mèze
Mèze
Coordinates: 43°25′40″N 3°36′21″E
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentHérault
ArrondissementMontpellier
CantonMèze
IntercommunalityCA Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée
Government
 • Mayor (2021–2026) Thierry Baëza[1]
Area
1
34.59 km2 (13.36 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2020)[2]
12,385
 • Density360/km2 (930/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
34157 /34140
Elevation0–75 m (0–246 ft)
(avg. 20 m or 66 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Its inhabitants are called Mézois.

Geography
Eastern end of the communal area.

Situated on the étang de Thau, Mèze shares with Bouzigues its historic role as the oyster capital of the area. Almost a third of its inhabitants depend on the fishing industry for their livelihood. In recent years, tourism and transport have become increasingly central to the local economy.

Map

History

An important port since Phoenician times, Mèze has always primarily been a fishing town. During the Roman Empire, the town lay on the main Southern route from Italy to Spain - the 'Via Domitia'. The Romans brought wine to the area and left a legacy of architecture including two of the town's churches. The production of shellfish, especially oysters, has been the mainstay of the Mèze economy for almost a century and the whole Bassin de Thau area has built an international reputation for the quality of its seafood.

Administration
Term Mayor of Mèze Party
1807–1815 Michel Privat
1815–1817 Charles de Borie
1817–1820 Pierre Ronzier
1820–1828 Louis Charamaule
1828–1840 François Bouliech
1840–1848 de Borie
1848-1848 Santy
1848–1849 Hippolyte Bouliech
1849-1849 Frédéric de Girard
1849–1850 Jules Molinier
1850–1851 François Besse
1851-1851 Sylla Lacroix
1851–1859 Constantin Bouliech
1859–1865 Adrien Lonjon
1865–1870 Gustave Privat
1870–1874 Antonin Bouliech
1874–1876 Emile Molinier
1876-1876 Jean-Baptiste Allègre
1876–1878 Jean-François Besse
1878-1878 Benjamin Durand
1878–1880 Jean-Baptiste Allègre
1880–1882 Emile Beaumadier
1882–1885 Jean-Baptiste Allègre
1885-1885 Vincent Germain
1885–1887 Jean-Baptiste Allègre
1887–1892 Guillaume Gros
1892–1901 Paulin Arnaud
1901–1904 Paul Enteric
1904–1912 Baptiste Guitard
1912–1921 Paul Enteric
1921–1922 Louis Brun
1922–1923 Camille Fraisse,
Charles Poujol,
François Vailhe		 délégation spéciale
1923–1925 Julien Granal
1925–1941 Méril Poujade
1941–1944 Thomas Bessiere délégation spéciale
1944–1947 Henri Bessède
1947–1971 André Montet
1971–1977 Georges Jean
1977–2001 Yves Pietrasanta Greens
2001-2001 Yvon Pibre
2001-2021 Henry Fricou Greens/Europe Écologie–The Greens
2021-2026 Thierry Baëza Génération écologie

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 5,005—    
1975 5,508+1.38%
1982 5,742+0.60%
1990 6,502+1.57%
1999 7,630+1.79%
2007 10,336+3.87%
2012 10,917+1.10%
2017 11,587+1.20%
Source: INSEE[3]

Sights
Chapelle des Pénitents.
St-Jean-de-la-Garrigue - église romane.
  • Old village center
  • Port Mèze: both a working fishing harbor and a port for recreational boating.
  • Lagunage ecological site
  • Dinosaur Plain' palenthology museum.
  • Eglise Saint Hilaire
  • La Chapelle des Pénitents (12th century)
  • Le château de Girard (end of 17th century)
  • Remains of city walls
  • St-Jean-de-la-Garrigue, former parish church, built in romanesque style.

Personalities

Festivals
  • Music Festival de Thau (annual),
  • A festival of traditional Boat Jousting is held each summer.

Traditions
  • The legendary bœuf de Mèze has become the animal symbol of the town.
  • The Balle au tambourin ball game.

See also

References
  1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 1 February 2022.
  2. "Populations légales 2020". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 29 December 2022.
  3. Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
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