Marvejols (French pronunciation: [maʁvəʒɔl]; Occitan: Maruèjols) is a commune in the southern French department of Lozère.

Marvejols
The Porte de Chanelles
Coat of arms of Marvejols
Location of Marvejols
Map
Marvejols is located in France
Marvejols
Marvejols
Marvejols is located in Occitanie
Marvejols
Marvejols
Coordinates: 44°33′15″N 3°17′27″E / 44.5542°N 3.2908°E / 44.5542; 3.2908
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentLozère
ArrondissementMende
CantonMarvejols
IntercommunalityGévaudan
Government
 • Mayor (2021–2026) Patricia Brémond[1]
Area
1
12.45 km2 (4.81 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
4,738
 • Density380/km2 (990/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
48092 /48100
Elevation632–918 m (2,073–3,012 ft)
(avg. 640 m or 2,100 ft)
Websitewww.ville-marvejols.fr
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 known as Marvejolais.

Geography

edit

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

History

edit

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

edit
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 4,490—    
1975 5,296+2.39%
1982 5,573+0.73%
1990 5,476−0.22%
1999 5,501+0.05%
2007 5,071−1.01%
2012 4,950−0.48%
2017 4,722−0.94%
Source: INSEE[3]

Monuments and sights

edit
 
Porte Soubeyran, the north gate
  • La porte du Soubeyran, a town gateway dating from the fourteenth century. Two other medieval gates survive, La Porte de Chanelles to the south and the smaller Porte du Therond, to the east.[4] Despite some 17th-century repairs, they still keep their medieval charm.
 
Notre Dame de la Carce
  • Notre Dame de la Carce dating from the end of the 13th century, becoming collegiate in 1310.
  • Two large bronze sculptures by Emmanuel Auricoste can be seen at two of the entrances to Marvejols. One represents the mythical Beast of Gévaudan, the other, that of Henry IV of France, inscribed "exécuté à Marvejols en 1954" (Executed in 1954), which refers, of course, to the date of the sculpture, not the King's demise.
  • The wolf park of Gévaudan: Over 100 wolves live in a semi-natural state in an area of hills above Marvejols, once renowned for the animals.

Culture

edit
 
Croix occitane

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

edit
edit

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

Twin town

edit

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Cockermouth, UK

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 4 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  4. ^ "PORTE DU THEROND - Marvejols - Lozère Tourism". Retrieved 1 March 2019.
edit