- Nizas, Hérault
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Nizas
View of Nizas 
NizasAdministration Country France Region Languedoc-Roussillon Department Hérault Arrondissement Béziers Canton Montagnac Intercommunality Hérault Méditerranée Mayor Guy Millat
(2001)Statistics Elevation 19–131 m (62–430 ft)
(avg. 72 m/236 ft)Land area1 8.53 km2 (3.29 sq mi) Population2 567 (2008) - Density 66 /km2 (170 /sq mi) INSEE/Postal code 34184/ 34320 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°30′50″N 3°24′30″E / 43.5138888889°N 3.40833333333°E
Nizas (Nisàs in Occitan) is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. It lies near the Pézenas. The inhabitants of the village of Nizas are called Nizaçois.
Coat of arms D'azur à une tour donjonnée de trois tourelles d'argent maçonnées de sable[1]
Blue background with the tower crowned with three small silver towers built of sandstone
Contents
History
Like many places in Languedoc-Roussillon, the village of Nizas has been continuously inhabited since prehistoric time. The vicinity of the village is rich in archeological sites, such as proto-anthropomorphic stele of Pla Méjo and la grotte de l'Homme Mort[2], both from the Chalcolithic period.
The origins of the village of Nizas are certainly Roman, although there are remains from Greek amphora manufacturing processes in neighbouring villages. There are evidences of Roman foundations from the first century AD under the early 18th-century church in the center of the village.
The name Nizas derived from the name of a Latin nobleman Nisius whose domain is buried under the modern village. Nizas is mentioned in the Carolingian texts (884 AD) as a villa[3]. Following the collapse of the Carolingian empire, Occitanian peasantry who, prior to 950 lived mostly at dispersed farms, regrouped around castles of local nobles for protection. Thus, the fortified villages or “castra” in Occitan, appeared between 950 and 1050[4]. “Castro Nizacio” is mentioned in time of crusades (1094–1114). The circulade is still well preserved in the historical center of the village called quartier de la Villette.
At the end of 16th century, the Carrion family acquired the fief from the bishop of Lodève and adopted the name Carrion-Nizas. That was Jean-Raymond de Carrion-Nizas ( d. 1624), master-builder of walls of Pézenas, who built or re-built the current castle[5]. The Carrion-Nizas family remained the lords of the village until the French Revolution. The tomb of the Carrion-Nizas family is still in the church chancel.
Very interesting archival materials, such as old maps, postcards and photographs, census of population and parochial records going as far back as early 17 century may be found on line at Archives départementales de l'Hérault[6].
The present village dates from the tenth century with extensive building in the 12th and 13th centuries giving the characteristic shape of a circulade. This is tight spiral configuration with the outer buildings having thick (up to 3 meters in places) stone walls as a defence. Since 2004, the historical district quartier de la Villette is a pedestrian zone. The information below is largely based on the tourists signs.
Castrum Tower
The tower is located in quartier de la Villette, the oldest part of Nizas. This four-sided tower (6.5 x 10 m) with walls 1.70m thick was originally surrounded by an enclosure which served as a farmyard to the old chateau.
Place du Griffe
From the XVth century onwards, the center of the village spread to the west of the original center (quartier de la Villette) around a new square – the Place du Griffe. In this square, in the center of a fountain, there is a statue of Marianne which is more mythological than Republican. She is the Greek-Roman goddess Artemis-Diana or Belissena, her counterpart in Celt Iberian cosmos of divinities[7]. She isn't wearing phrygian cap, but a star on her forehead, suggesting the guiding light to lead people from the darkness of ignorance.
Church
The cornerstone of the present church was consecrated on January 13, 1705 on the site of the former chapel of Saints Perpetue and Felicity which was demolished in 1703. The construction work was completed by August 1708. Saint Perpetue relics are still objects of veneration.[8] The church is open for worship and visits only during the time of service.
Gallery
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Approaching village of Nizas
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Old wine press converted to flowerbed
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Picturesque view from a nearby hill at sunset
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Village square, La place du Griffe
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La place du Griffe at night - Cet endroit est brumeux et mystérieux
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Castle of Carrion-Nizas, who remained the local lords from late 16th century until the revolution. The castle is presently closed to public.
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Old part of the village (quartier de la Villette).
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Facade of the village church.
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Coquelicot ("Red poppy" in French)
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La garrigue ("garriga" in Occitan) - Mediterranean scrubland, Spring time
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Hills of Herault, Spring time
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Sheep
References
- ^ Didier Catarina et Jean-Paul Fernon, Armorial des communes de l'Hérault, Artistes en Languedoc, ISSN 1264-5354, p 53.
- ^ Jean Grimal. Le village chalcolithique du "Pla Mejo" Commune de Nizas (Hérault), Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, 1966, n° 5, pp. 181-188.
- ^ Nizas, La patine du temps by Guilhem Beugnon
- ^ Les Cathares by de Brenon and Roux. Pouvoir et Societe en Francie occidentale en l'an Mil, p.25 ISBN 2-911515-28-5
- ^ Nizas, La patine du temps by Guilhem Beugnon
- ^ Archives départementales de l'Hérault
- ^ Otto Rahn, Crusade against the Grail, Inner Traditions International 2006, ISSN 1-59477-135-9, p 105.
- ^ http://archives.herault.fr/cartes_postales-6598.html?btCom=200
External links
- http://www.nizas.com/nizas.html
- http://www.agglo-heraultmediterranee.net/Sites_communes/nizas/index.php
- http://www.agglo-heraultmediterranee.net/Sites_communes/nizas/presentation.php
Categories:- Communes of Hérault
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