Saint-Ambroix (Gard)

Saint-Ambroix , in Occitan Feels Ambruèis , is a common French, located in the department of the Gard and the area Languedoc-Roussillon.

Geography

Saint-Ambroix is an old capital of the Soie. Tourist and commercial crossroads of the the Cevennes the city is located near to the National park of the Cevennes.

By his privileged geographical location, Saint-Ambroix constitutes the starting point of multiple tourist routes.

History

Saint-Ambroix is a historical city, the Celts and the Romans left traces of their passage there. City strengthened with the Middle Ages, it thereafter will develop commercially and industrially (industry of silk at the 19th century). Astonishing and mysterious by its rock of Dugas, its excavations archaeological, its houses troglodytes, the ruins of his castle, its Gisquet tower, its legend of Volo-Biòu (the ox which flies) but especially its furnace bridge with human sacrifice of the Celtic time which makes this city single.

Today, Saint-Ambroix plays the part of a true commercial pole thanks to his market whose origins go up with 1363 (royal favor of King Jean II the Good). Very tourist city during the summer period, it is equipped with many camp-sites, hotels, restaurants, lodgings, water levels as well as an old people's home and rest.

Administration

Saint-Ambroix is equipped with a passanger station on splendid small the Ligne Ales-Bessèges of the SNCF. The pretty station is always upright but in a sad state and the quays, in a state of quasi-abandonment, show sorrow unfortunately.

Demography

Places and monuments

Castle of Montalet
Archeological site of the Pedestrian DUGAS
33 Paths
Turn Guisquet
Museum of the Woman and the Child - Museum of the Blazons - House of the Liquors
Cave of Cocalière

The legend of Volo Biòu

Every July 13rd and 14th, the Ambroisiens Saint revives their legend dating from the Middle Ages by a medieval festival and makes steal an ox! The festival was preceded in 1994 and was selected like one of the most beautiful festivals of France in 1998. It is selected by the guide of the wine festivals of France.

In short: After a very important grape harvest, the saint ambroisiens could not any more what make of their wine which started to mildew. The consul (mayor of the time) decided that one would make steal an ox to Saint Ambroix, made it announce and organized a great celebration where everyone drank… the wine at will ran out, there did not remain a drop about it, and the ox was thrown top of the hill (Ranc d' Uzège). Unfortunately and obviously it was crushed with the foot of the hill in question… but everyone had spent one good moment and the spirits of the saint ambroisiens had been alleviated and the past wine… This is why one calls the saint ambroisiens the " volo biou" … For the small anecdote… The alésiens, which at that time lived there a period of famine, had come to the celebration and had benefitted from it to recover the tripe of ox… one calls them since the " eat tripo" …!

Personalities related to the commune

Armand COUSSENS, painter

See too

Common of Gard
Line the SNCF Ales-Bessèges

External bonds

Saint-Ambroix on the site of the national geographical Institute
Saint-Ambroix on the site of INSEE
Saint-Ambroix on the site of Quid
Localization of Saint-Ambroix on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Saint-Ambroix on Mapquest

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