Le Vigan

This small town of the Cévennes is situated at the foot of the southern slope of the Aigoual mountain , in the Arre valley. This sub prefecture with 5000 inhabitants is also a social , cultural and administrative center. It has gone through its ups and downs during the centuries : invasions , religious wars , the resistance movement but more positively its spinning factories and silk hosiery.

Le Vigan is a nice , lively town that is well frequented by tourists in love with nature. Its location is a good reason for this popularity : gateway of the Cévennes , threshold of Haut-Languedoc , in the center of a region that is more or less wild with its numerous possibilities for hiking and other discoveries.

History

Le Vigan was the seat of the "Arisitum" diocese during the 6th century , and also that of an Archpriest who seperated from the diocese of Nimes to form that of Alès in the 17th century.

During the Middle-Ages , the Benedictine monks built the Priory Saint-Pierre of Le Vigan
(present site of the "maison de Pays"). The town was constructed around this Priory. By the 16th century the inhabitants were surrounded by quadrilateral remparts with five gates and six towers.

Sightseeing

Hotel de Ginestous (18th century) , 2 rue du Marquis. It belonged to M de Ginestous , the first consul elected at Le Vigan. Presently occupied by the bank Caisse d'épargne. It has an elegant façade and a beautiful gate.

Hotel Esterhazy ( 18th century) , 2 rue du Barris. It belonged to Count Esterhazy , grandson of a Hungarian immigrant , Knight of the Order St esprit.

Chateau d'Assas (18th century) , 11 rue du Barris. The court of entry is shaded with chestnut trees. The windows on its façade have sculpted heads , a triangular fronton , a spur shaped balcony that overlooks the French garden.

St Pierre church (place Bonald) : 18th century façade , 19th century interior.

The Protestant Temple (rue du Palais) : the ancient Capuchin friar chapel with its adjoining cloister.This temple was given to the Protestants as a place of Worship in 1804.

Statues : Heros born at Le Vigan ; Sgt Triaire and the Knight of Assas.

As strange as this may seem , a statue of Colouche stands in the garden of the former hotel de Ginestous. The sculptor Christine Zénéré offered this statue to the mayor of the village where this comedian died , but he refused it. The mayor of Le Vigan accepted it with pleasure .

The Fountains : 17ty century octogonal drinking troughs , fed by waters from the source Isis. They are situated at place du Quai , place de Bonald , and place du marché.

Streets of the old town : the interior of the town has a network of very narrow streets lined with ancient buildings.

Parc des Chataigniers : a park full of greenery , quiet and ideal for relaxing under the chestnut , oak and ash trees.

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