Ganges, Hérault
Ganges | |
|---|---|
Town hall | |
|
Coat of arms | |
Location of Ganges | |
Ganges Ganges | |
| Coordinates: 43°56′06″N 3°42′33″E / 43.935°N 3.7092°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Hérault |
| Arrondissement | Lodève |
| Canton | Lodève |
| Intercommunality | Cévennes Gangeoises et Suménoises |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Michel Fratissier[1] |
Area 1 | 7.16 km2 (2.76 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[2] | 3,854 |
| • Density | 540/km2 (1,400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 34111 /34190 |
| Elevation | 138–540 m (453–1,772 ft) (avg. 186 m or 610 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Ganges (French pronunciation: [ɡɑ̃ʒ]; Languedocien: Gange) is a commune in the Hérault department in Occitanie in southern France.
Location
Ganges is situated at the confluence of the Hérault and Rieutord rivers.[3]
History
The castle, of which only ruins remain, was the scene of a murder in the 17th century that was the subject of Gothic Fiction by both the Marquis de Sade and Alexandre Dumas Père.[4] The beautiful Dianne de Roussan was killed by her husband's brothers, who wanted her large fortune. They were caught and subsequently executed.
Ganges became prosperous from the manufacture of fine silk stockings during the reign of Louis XIV. Natural silk was replaced by artificial, and later by nylon, and cottage industry gave way to factories; half a dozen or so still produce high quality stockings.
As a predominantly Huguenot town, it was involved in the Camisard revolts of the late 17th and early 18thC[5] and suffered from the anti-Protestant Dragonnades of the French monarchy.[6]
In August 1944, German forces retreating from Toulouse tried to force a way down the Hérault valley through Ganges towards Nimes; they were repelled on August 24th by the defence of the Aigoual-Cévennes maquis.[7][8][9]
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 4,872 | — |
| 1975 | 3,858 | −3.28% |
| 1982 | 3,533 | −1.25% |
| 1990 | 3,343 | −0.69% |
| 1999 | 3,502 | +0.52% |
| 2007 | 3,943 | +1.49% |
| 2012 | 3,979 | +0.18% |
| 2017 | 4,024 | +0.23% |
| Source: INSEE[10] | ||
Tourism
The area around Ganges offers extensive activities, including kayaking, gliding and go-karting.
The moped mobylette was created by a resident of Ganges and a plaque near the old town commemorates this fact.
International relations
Ganges is the twin town of Schwalmtal (Germany).
Famous people
It was the birthplace of the author, poet and composer Antoine Fabre d'Olivet (December 8, 1767, – March 25, 1825, Paris)[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Populations de référence 2022" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 19 December 2024.
- ^ Languedoc, Rousillon, Tarn Gorges, 2nd ed., Michelin Tyre plc, 1998, p 193 ISBN 2-06-136602-3
- ^ The marquise de ganges 1 Feb 2025
- ^ — Abbe Julien ROUQUETTE, Histoire de la ville de Ganges, Montpellier, Imprimerie de la Manufacture de la Charité, 1904, in- 8°, 300 p. - in French
- ^ Dragonnades en Languedoc, conversions en masse, interdictions et démolitions de temples. — Notes manuscrites trouvées en tête d'un Nouveau Testament et d'un Psautier Cévenols (1683-1685) in French 1 Feb 2025
- ^ Languedoc, Rousillon, Tarn Gorges.
- ^ Midi Libre (in French)accessed 1 Feb 2025
- ^ F. LEONARD, Groupe 11, souvenirs d’un maquisard de l’Aigoual. Nîmes, 2005 ; M. FRATISSIER, La bataille de Ganges, Ganges, s. d.
- ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- ^ Godwin, Joscelyn. "The Super-Enlightenment: Authors: Fabre d'Olivet". Stanford University collections. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.