Sommières

French commune
nomcommune=Sommières
and the Roman Bridge
région=Languedoc-Roussillon
département=Gard
arrondissement=Nîmes
canton=Sommières
insee= 30321
cp=30250
maire=Guy Marotte
mandat=2004-2008
intercomm=Pays de Sommières
longitude=4.09083333333
latitude=43.7852777778
alt moy=34 m
alt mini=19
alt maxi=106 m
hectares=1036
km²=10.36
sans=4505
date-sans=2006
dens=434
date-dens=2006

Sommières is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.

It lies 22 km from Nîmes, 28 km from Montpellier.

Geography

Sommières is to the south of the garrigues and on the edge of the Vaunage, a wine growing region. It straddles the River Vidourle.

History

The village grew in the protection of the castle. It was annexed into the French kingdom by King Louis X in 1248, following the crusade against the Albigensiens. It became a protestant stronghold, and it was besieged by the catholic Louis XIII in 1622. It has always been prone to flooding, and as recently as 2002 the River Vidourle flooded, causing major damage to the town and properties along the bank. This time it washed out the Champion supermarket, which reopened at Villevieille in July 2008. In October 2008 this supermarket was rebranded Carrefour.The floods are called 'vidourlades'.Guide Michelin, Gorges du Tarn Cévennes Languedoc, 2nd edition 1994 ISBN 2-06-033702-X ]

Main sights

The village has a Roman bridge, a medieval centre, a fortified gate and the ruins of a castle.

The Roman bridge is 190m long, it was built on the instructions of Emperor Tiberius at the start of the 1st century. It was restored in the 18th century. [http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0002564 Structurae:The Bridge] ] At the town end of the bridge is the gothic town gate known as the 'Tour de l'Horloge'.. Only 7 of the 19 arches can be seen, the others lie beneath the town where they act as cellars.

The ancient Roman road (Via Luteva) leads from the gate, along the Grande Rue to the 'Marché-Haut' or Place Jean Jaurès, the old wheat market. Here it turns left and leaves the town heading to Alès, and Nîmes.

Miscellaneous

Sommières used to be a centre for leather and linen.

The writer Lawrence Durrell lived in Sommières from 1966 to 1990.

References

External links

* [http://www.sommieres.info/ Online picture magazine on Sommières and it's surroundings]