Vaunage

The Vaunage is a space made up of plains and hills around Nages (known for its Oppidum) between Languedoc and Provence and between Sommières and Nimes. Its communes are of is in west: Caveirac, Clarensac, Langlade, Saint-Dionizy, Stroke-and-Solorgues, Calvisson, Boissières, Saint-Like-and-Maruéjols, Congénies.

Demography

According to the census of 1999, the population of Vaunage is of 15.250 inhabitants, divided in her nine communes:

Boissières: 485 hab and 333 ha

Calvisson: 4.725 hab and 2.897 ha

Caveirac: 3.860 hab and 1.479 ha

Clarensac: 3.117 hab and 1.449 ha

Congénies: 1.672 hab and 864 ha

Langlade: 2.850 hab and 900 ha

Stroke-and-Solorgues: 1.150 hab and 18 ha

Saint-Like-and-Maruéjols: 580 hab and 1.400 ha

Saint-Dionizy: 1050 hab and 641 ha

The nine communes of the plain of Vaunage thus have a surface of approximately 10.000 hectares (9981 exactly).

History

The origin of its name comes from “Valley of Strokes”.

The valley of Strokes is a combe dug in the finishing plate of the garrigues, where Rhôny runs. This depression, framed hills culminating with 200 meters is almost closed and communicates easily with outside only by two passages, one in the east, towards Nimes, the other, in the south, towards Vergèze.

This geographical location confers on this microrégion a strong identity feeling.

The chief Camisard Jean Cavalier called it the " small Chanaan" , qualifier taken again by Andre Chamson in Superb the .

This small country with agricultural vocation in the beginning is so impregnated of history which one could count several hundreds of sites, layers, archaeological establishments on the whole of its 10.000 hectares.

These valleys have been populated for more than 2000 years. Six oppida , dominated by that of Strokes, populated by the Volques, were built and occupied of the 8th century before JC with the 1st century after JC:

  • Oppidum of Stroke-and-Solorgues; on the commune of the same name;
  • Oppidum de Roque of Viou, on the commune of Saint-Dionizy;
  • Oppidum of Liquière, above the hamlet of Sinsans, on the commune of Calvisson;
  • Oppidum of Makes Cuckoo above Calvisson;
  • Oppidum of the Rock of Gachonne above Calvisson;
  • Oppidum de Mauressip or " Mouressipe" , on the commune of Saint-Like-and-Maruéjols.

The oppidum of Strokes is that which left the most important archaeological traces.

Historically, this area is very marked by its past of strong resistance Protesting E. Beautiful Château X medieval dominates the valleys like those of Villevieille, Sommières (these two last being very close, but apart from Vaunage) or Boissières. The other “castles” are more recent (Castle of Caveirac) or are in fact of very beautiful masonries of Provence, the country houses or large farmhouses (like the castle of Calvisson, of Clarensac, the Castle Langlade…).

The tradition taurine and camarguaise are very present in the valleys.

The ground is argilo-limestone and the flora primarily of scrubland. This is why it is also a very wine area, primarily on the level of the soil of the Vieux Langlade (located on the commune of the same name), soil snuffed since the 15th century for its wines.

Today, this area is deteriorated more and more by many real constructions in periphery of Nimes.

The beginning of the XXIe century sees an old railway transformed into Green lane of Vaunage: Caveirac - Calvisson - Sommières for all not motorized: pedestrians armchairs shoes and bicycles.

Literature and poetry

Cartulaire of Nimes (in 955, occitan, quoted by Idebert Exbrayat, in If Vaunage to me were told , Nouvelle Edition, 1992):
it Vaunagea éro a moton,
Sant As in seriated lou kidney.
E poudés passed dice partot,
Sant Donisé in seriated it fuzzy.
(If Vaunage were a sheep,
Saint As would be the kidney.
And you can pass anywhere,
Saint Dionisy would be the flower.)

Poem on Vaunage (Page 30 of the book Voyage around Vaunage of Maurice Aliger, member of the Academy of Nimes. Printing works BUCKET. 1983):

"Generous and opulent Vaunage,

three times over rich
of the fruit of the olive-tree, chasselas and sunny wine
fair;

Vaunage,… "

Personalities

Sources

  • Oppida of Vaunage, of 8th at the 3rd century before JC. File carried out by Genevieve Mat, Helene Peyre, Ghislaine Richard, under dir it. of Maryse Clary, with the scientific assistance of Michel Py, Editions CNDP, Nimes, 1986, ISBN 9037-60-431-5.

External bond

  • Vaunage
  • Blog on the village of Langlade

See too

Random links:Precession of the equinoxes | Release of Nice | Fifth Avenue | Mourre de Chanier | Lord Gauvain and the green knight | L'aurore,_Maine