Hérault
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| Hérault | |
|---|---|
| Image:Blason34.PNG | |
| The Hérault coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| |
| Administration | |
| Département number: | 34 |
| Région: | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Préfecture: | Montpellier |
| Sub-Préfectures: | Béziers Lodève |
| Arrondissements: | 3 |
| Cantons: | 49 |
| Communes: | 343 |
| Conseiller Général: | André Vezinhet PS |
| Statistics | |
| Population | Ranked 22nd |
| -1999 | 896,441 |
| Population density: | 147/km² |
| Land area¹: | 6101 km² |
| ¹ French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km². | |
| Image:Flag of France.svg | |
- For the Lieutenant General of Police of Paris, see René Hérault.
Hérault is a département in the southwest of France named after the Hérault River.
Contents |
[edit] History
Hérault was one of the original 83 départements created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the wine-growing region was devastated, and thousands of workers revolted. This revolt was suppressed very harshly by the government of Georges Clemenceau.
The catastrophic frost of the winter of 1956 damaged the olive trees, and the olive-growing regions did not recover until 1980. Many of the olive-industry co-ops closed.
[edit] Geography
Hérault is part of the current région of Languedoc-Roussillon and is surrounded by the départements of Aude, Tarn, Aveyron, Gard, and the Mediterranean Sea (Golfe du Lion) on the south.
The département is very geographically diverse, with beaches in the south, the Cévennes mountains in the north, and agricultural land in between.
The important rivers are:
The area of Hérault near the town of Lodeve is an antipode point with Chatham Island, off the east coast of New Zealand.
[edit] Climate
The average temperature is between 15 and 16 degrees Celsius.
[edit] Demographics
The inhabitants of the département are called Héraultais.
[edit] Culture
Montpellier hosts the following festivals:
- Saperlipopette, voilà Enfantillages !
- Printemps des Comédiens
- Festival du Cinéma Méditerranéen
- Comédie du Livre
- Festival Radio-France Montpellier
The Canal du Midi has been designated as part of the Human Patrimony by UNESCO.
[edit] Tourism
The Mediterranean beaches are a major attraction, as well as the caves of Clamouse and Demoiselles.
Part of Cap d'Agde is a major nudist resort.
See The Hérault Tourist Board : [1]
[edit] See also
- Cantons of the Hérault département
- Communes of the Hérault département
- Arrondissements of the Hérault département
[edit] External links
- (French) Prefecture website
- (French) Conseil Général website
- The Hérault département and Languedoc-Roussillon région
- (French) A list of interesting links about Hérault
- (French) Canal du Midi
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