- Martigues
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Martigues
Le Miroir aux oiseaux (Mirror Bird) area 
MartiguesAdministration Country France Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Department Bouches-du-Rhône Arrondissement Istres Canton Martigues-Est and Martigues-Ouest Intercommunality Ouest de l'Étang de Berre Mayor Gaby Charroux
(2008–2014)Statistics Elevation 0–187 m (0–614 ft)
(avg. 1 m/3.3 ft)Land area1 71.44 km2 (27.58 sq mi) Population2 46,471 (2008) - Density 650 /km2 (1,700 /sq mi) INSEE/Postal code 13056/ 13500 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. Coordinates: 43°24′19″N 5°02′51″E / 43.4052777778°N 5.0475°E
Martigues (Occitan: Lo Martegue in classical norm, Lou Martegue in Mistralian norm) is a commune northwest of Marseille. It is part of the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the eastern end of the Canal de Caronte.
A direct translation from the Martigues Tourisme [1] Website reveals the following about Martigues:
- Nicknamed the "Provençale Venice", Martigues is a point of passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Martigues (now Etang de Berre), close to the Côte d'Azur. The charm of its canals, its docks and bridges made it "The Venice of Provence". Martigues possesses also its cooperative winery "La Venise provençale": Coteaux d'Aix en Provence, rosé, red and white wines, fruit juices and natural oils in the region. Main varietals: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Clairette.
Contents
History
Martigues was founded by Ramon Berenguer IV, count of Provence in 1232 on the likely site of the Roman camp Maritima Avaticorum.
Population
Historical population of Martigues 1793 1800 1806 1821 1831 1836 1841 1846 1851 1856 6695 6869 6888 7255 7438 7299 7772 7873 8640 8099 1861 1866 1872 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896 1901 1906 8433 8011 8053 6963 6483 6494 5918 5659 6280 5734 1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1946 1954 1962 7450 6304 8876 9394 10,489 11,295 15,150 21,515 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2008 27,945 26,477 42,037 42,678 43,497 46,471 Transport
The Gare de Martigues railway station is served by regional trains between Miramas and Marseille.
Personalities
- Gerard Thom (Frère Gérard), founder of the Knights Hospitaller
- Nadjim Abdou footballer
- Rod Fanni footballer
- André-Pierre Gignac footballer
Charles Maurras, poet and political theorist.
See also
References
- ^ Martigues-Tourisme Official Website, page of direct translation, quoting Martigue as "The Venice of Provence"
External links
Categories:- Communes of Bouches-du-Rhône
- Bouches-du-Rhône geography stubs
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