Lodève

{{short description|Subprefecture of Hérault, Occitanie}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox French commune

|name = Lodève

|commune status = Subprefecture and commune

|image = Lodeve Pont de Fer.jpg

|caption = The iron bridge in Lodève

|image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Lodève (Hérault).svg

|arrondissement = Lodève

|canton = Lodève

|INSEE = 34142

|postal code = 34700

|demonym = Lodévois, Lodévoise

|mayor = Gaëlle Lévêque{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=6 June 2023|language=fr}}

|party = PS

|term = 2020–2026

|intercommunality = Lodévois et Larzac

|coordinates = {{coord|43.7325|3.3203|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

|elevation m = 165

|elevation min m = 117

|elevation max m = 700

|area km2 = 23.17

|website = http://www.lodeve.com

|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}

|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}

|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}

}}

Lodève ({{IPA|fr|lodɛv|-|Fr-Paris--Lodève.ogg}}; {{langx|oc|Lodeva}}, {{IPA|oc|luˈðeβɔ|}}; {{langx|la|Luteva}}) is a commune in the department of Hérault, in the region of Occitania, southern France. It is a subprefecture 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. This mud could be a clay, called argillite, which was use during ancient history to produce pottery.

Geography

File:Map commune FR insee code 34142.png

{{clear left}}

Lodève lies where the coastal plain rises up to the Larzac plateau, {{convert|54|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Montpellier, where the river Lergue and the smaller river Soulondre meet. Lodève is surrounded by green hills and vineyards and lies only {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the large man-made Lac du Salagou.

Climate

Lodève has a mostly mediterranean climate, with hot summersSometimes excessively hot. The canicule of 2003 saw temperatures in excess of {{convert|40|°C|0}}, causing many deaths favourable to 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 tribe of the Volcae, 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. From the 5th century until the French Revolution, it was the seat of the Bishops of Lodève.{{cite CE1913|wstitle=Diocese of Montpellier}} 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 Gobelins in Paris{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}.

More recently, the area was the centre of a firm resistance against the Nazi occupation during the Second World War{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}.

Sights

File:Lodeva catedral 2.jpg]]

  • Lodève Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Fulcran de Lodève), parts of which date from the sixth century.
  • Museum Fleury (temporary art exhibitions (mainly paintings) and a permanent archaeological collection).
  • Halle Dardé, dedicated to local sculptor Paul Dardé.
  • L'Atelier national du tapis de Lodève, the French state carpet-making workshop (visits arranged by Tourist Office, Lodève).

In the vicinity:

Culture

Throughout the year, the town hosts a programme of cultural and sporting events, as well as all sorts of markets. In recent years, the Museum Art Gallery has gained national acclaim for its major art exhibitions.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The "Voix de la Méditerranée" poetry festival, established in 1998, takes place every July for around 9 days, and involves poets, musicians and writers from many different countries on the Mediterranean.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

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

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.

{{Historical populations

|align = none

|cols = 2

|percentages = pagr

|source = EHESS{{Cassini-Ehess|19800|Lodève }} and INSEE (1968-2017)[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-34142#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE

|1793 |7906

|1800 |7449

|1806 |8317

|1821 |9056

|1831 |9919

|1836 |11208

|1841 |10477

|1846 |10718

|1851 |11238

|1856 |12765

|1861 |11864

|1866 |10571

|1872 |9464

|1876 |10528

|1881 |10185

|1886 |9532

|1891 |9060

|1896 |8416

|1901 |8200

|1906 |7395

|1911 |7668

|1921 |6508

|1926 |6629

|1931 |7020

|1936 |6135

|1946 |6242

|1954 |6426

|1962 |6869

|1968 |7556

|1975 |7910

|1982 |8378

|1990 |7602

|1999 |6900

|2007 |7329

|2012 |7552

|2017 |7441

}}

Transportation

The town lies on the A75 autoroute about 30 minutes south of the new Millau viaduct, the highest bridge in the world.

{{clear left}}

Personalities

Lodève was the birthplace of:

Economy

The town houses a famous carpet-manufacturing company, part of the national Savonnerie, which once supplied 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 and Gjakova, Kosovo.

See also

References

{{reflist}}