Pézenas
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A general view of Pézenas
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 Pézenas
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Location within Occitanie region
Pézenas
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| Coordinates: 43°27′38″N 3°25′25″E / 43.4606°N 3.4236°ECoordinates: 43°27′38″N 3°25′25″E / 43.4606°N 3.4236°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Occitanie | |
| Department | Hérault | |
| Arrondissement | Béziers | |
| Canton | Pézenas | |
| Intercommunality | Hérault Méditerranée | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2014–2020) | Alain Vogel-Singer | |
| Area1 | 29.56 km2 (11.41 sq mi) | |
| Population (2012)2 | 8,317 | |
| • Density | 280/km2 (730/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 34199 /34120 | |
| Elevation | 3–96 m (9.8–315.0 ft) (avg. 15 m or 49 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Pézenas is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
"Pézenas" is derived from the older name Piscenae, probably from the Latin word piscenis, meaning fishpond. According to legend, there was a lake full of fish behind the château. Inhabitants of Pézenas are Piscenois.
The origins of Pézenas are unclear, but were influenced by three factors: water from the River Peyne, an ancient pre-Roman route from Rodez to Saint-Thibéry and a defensive hill site.
Pézenas has had a Protected Area (Secteur sauvegardé) since June 1965, the 14th created by the French Ministry of Culture. The ministry lists 116 historical edifices in Pézenas, more than 30 of which are protected after being classified "Historical Monuments". The main sights include:
Pézenas was the birthplace of:
People linked with Pézenas
The size and shape of a large cotton reel, these little sweet, spiced mutton pies are a golden brown, crispy pastry with a moist, sweet inside. They can be eaten as an hors d'oeuvre, with a salad or as a dessert. They are cooked in patisseries all over the town, but their origin is far from local. Tradition has it that Lord Clive brought the recipe from India and taught it to the pastry makers of Pézenas when he was staying at the Château de Larzac in 1768. It is more likely is that his servants were responsible.
In the BBC TV programme MasterChef: The Professionals, broadcast on 27 November 2012, Michel Roux, Jr. demonstrated how to cook the dish and set it as the classic recipe for contestants to make.
Like several of the surrounding towns and villages, Pézenas has a "totem animal"; in this case a huge hobby horse called Le Poulain (lo poulain or lo polin in Occitan), which means "the colt". It is said to commemorate a visit to the town in 1226 by Louis VIII, during which the king's favourite mare fell ill. She had to be left behind in Pézenas while Louis continued with the Albigensian Crusade. On his return he was astonished to find that not only was his mare now fully recovered, but she had also given birth to a fine colt, which was duly presented to him, adorned with ribbons. In return he decreed that the town should construct a wooden colt to be used to celebrate all its public festivities. The first mention of the custom is in 1615. The earliest publication of the legend accounting for the horse's existence dates from 1701.
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Wikipedia