Marvejols

Updated on Dec 02, 2024

Edit

Comment

Country France Department Lozère Intercommunality Gévaudan Area 12.45 km² Arrondissement Mende		Region Occitanie Canton Marvejols Population (1999) 5,501 Local time Tuesday 4:14 AM

Weather 5°C, Wind N at 13 km/h, 84% Humidity

Marvejols (Occitan: Maruèjols), is a commune in the Lozère department in southern France.

Map of 48100 Marvejols, France

Its inhabitants are known as Marvejolais.

Geography

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

History

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.

Monuments and sights

La porte du Soubeyran, a town gateway dating from the fourteenth century.

Despite some 17th-century repairs, it still keeps its medieval charm.

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

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.