Aimargues () is a commune in the

Gard Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;department in southern France. The town of Aimargues may have Roman origins and is situated beside the river

Vidourle The Vidourle (; ''Vidorle'' in occitan) is a river in southern France that flows into the Mediterranean Sea in Le Grau-du-Roi. Its source is in the Cévennes mountains, northwest of Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, at Saint-Roman-de-Codières. It flow ...

on the

floodplain A floodplain or flood plain or bottomlands is an area of land adjacent to a river. Floodplains stretch from the banks of a river channel to the base of the enclosing valley, and experience flooding during periods of high Discharge (hydrolog ...

of the

Rhône The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...

. Traditionally it has been an agricultural and wine-producing community but it now also has a number of new industries and employers who benefit from excellent road connections to the north of France as well as to Spain and Italy.

Geography

Located some to the southwest of

Nîmes Nîmes ( , ; ; Latin: ''Nemausus'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Gard Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of Southern France. Located between the Med ...

, close to the border with the

Hérault Hérault (; , ) is a departments of France, department of the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southern France. Named after the Hérault (river), Hérault River, its Prefectures in France, prefecture is M ...

department, Aimargues can be easily accessed from the nearby

Autoroute A9 The A9 autoroute (''La Languedocienne''/''La Catalane'') is a motorway in Southern France. The road forms part of the European route European route E15, E15, as does the A9 road (Scotland). The road runs between Orange, Vaucluse, Orange and Le ...

Aimargues station Aimargues is a railway station in Aimargues, Occitanie, southern France. Within TER Occitanie TER Occitanie or liO Train is the regional rail network serving the region of Occitanie, southern France. It is operated by the French national r ...

has rail connections to Nîmes and Le Grau-du-Roi. The

Petite Camargue The Camargue (, also , , ; ) is a coastal region in southern France located south of the city of Arles, between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhône river delta. The eastern arm is called the Grand Rhône; the western is the ''P ...

is an area of wetlands on the west side of the

delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta"), the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * Delta Air Lines, a major US carrier ...

of the

Rhône River The Rhône ( , ; Occitan: ''Ròse''; Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf ...

in southern France. Aimargues is a small town in the Petite Camargue beside the River Vidourle which rises in the Cévennes Mountains to the northwest. Some 6,000 years BC much of the interior of the Petite Carmargue was occupied by a lagoon, ''l’étang de l’or'', which was separated from the sea by a sandy bar. Since then the lake has become progressively silted up. The countryside around Aimargues is flat and the soil is rich, being accumulated sediment brought down the River Rhône and deposited in its delta and surrounding area during flooding. As well as agricultural land there are levees, creeks, marshes, brackish ponds, lagoons and dunes in the area.

History

The suffix "argues" suggests that the town of Aimargues has been in existence since antiquity. It was probably named after the Roman military commander Flavius Armatus. It is unclear when exactly Aimargues castle was built but it was in existence before 1185.

King Louis IX Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), also known as Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death in 1270. He is widely recognized as the most distinguished of the Direct Capetians. Following the death of his father, Louis ...

is said to have set out for the

Crusades The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and at times directed by the Papacy during the Middle Ages. The most prominent of these were the campaigns to the Holy Land aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and its surrounding t ...

from the town. In the 13th century, a census showed that the town had become a bustling community with 522 homes, indicating a population of over 2,000 people. In 1565, the area came under the rule of the house of Crussol and Viscount d'Uzès made it one of the main strongholds of the Lower Vistrenque.

Louis XIII Louis XIII (; sometimes called the Just; 27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643) was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643 and King of Navarre (as Louis II) from 1610 to 1620, when the crown of Navarre was merged with the French crown. ...

ordered the destruction of the city walls. In the early 18th century, Jean Charles de Crussol included Baron d'Aymargues among his titles. The town has developed from an initial central core. This is self-contained and not traversed by routes extending from one side of the town to the other. It was originally surrounded by the

city wall A defensive wall is a fortification usually used to protect a city, town or other settlement from potential aggressors. The walls can range from simple palisades or Earthworks (military), earthworks to extensive military fortifications such as ...

, has the

château A château (, ; plural: châteaux) is a manor house, or palace, or residence of the lord of the manor, or a fine country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally, and still most frequently, in French-speaking re ...

in its northwest corner and the church, reconstructed in the nineteenth century, in its centre. This ancient part is surrounded by another zone that also has tightly packed houses and narrow streets. The outer suburbs are modern.

Landmarks

The Commune of Aimargues has several buildings of historic interest:"Tourisme"
, Aimargues.fr. Retrieved 7 October 2013. * The

Château de Teillan A château (, ; plural: châteaux) is a manor house, or palace, or residence of the lord of the manor, or a fine country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally, and still most frequently, in French-speaking reg ...

located 2 km to the south of the village is an old Roman castrum originally called "Villa Telliamis". It subsequently belonged to

Psalmody Abbey Psalmody Abbey, also Psalmodie Abbey or Psalmodi Abbey ( or ''Psalmodie''), was a Benedictine abbey located near Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze in the Camargue, in the department of Gard and the region of Languedoc-Roussillon in the south of France. It wa ...

before it was acquired by the Bornier family. Today's building dates from the second half of the 16th century with some 17th-century additions. It became a listed historic monument in 1992. * The

Mas de Malherbes The Mas de Malherbes is a provençal mas and a small hotel near Aimargues, in the south of France. History He first belongs to Hyacinthe Fontanès, Louis XV's personal treasurer. Property of the Ménard-Dorian family, from Lunel - whose notab ...

, property of the Ménard-Dorian family, linked to the

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romanticism, Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician. His most famous works are the novels ''The Hunchbac ...

one. * The former 17th-century parish church was converted into an indoor market at the end of the 19th century. Now known as the Salle Georges Brassens, it is used as an exhibition centre. The village also has schools, nurseries, a library, a youth centre and an adult leisure centre. There is a bullfighting arena where the "course camarguaise" takes place. In the traditional fights held here, the bull is not killed but an unarmed ''raseteur'' attempts to snatch a rosette from between its horns.

Population

Economy

While agriculture and wine production are still important contributors to the local economy, more recent players such as

Royal Canin Royal Canin () is a French manufacturer and global supplier of cat and dog food. The company is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated. It undertakes research into the specific nutritional needs of dogs and cats. The company was established by Frenc ...

, the dog and cat food producer, Itesoft, a software company, and the underwear company Éminence are also important employers, benefitting from easy access to the motorway with connections to Italy and Spain as well as to the north of France.

Mayors

* Under French Revolution : ** Jean-Baptiste Lancry de La Loyelle, first mayor elected (moderate, January–October 1790); ** Charles Carbonnier (moderate, November 1790-November 1791); ** Marc-Antoine Boissier (moderate, November 1791-December 1792); ** Pierre Boissière ''senior'' (moderate, December 1792-October 1793); ** Pierre Fontanès (

jacobin The Society of the Friends of the Constitution (), renamed the Society of the Jacobins, Friends of Freedom and Equality () after 1792 and commonly known as the Jacobin Club () or simply the Jacobins (; ), was the most influential political cl ...

, October 1793-May 1795); ** Guillaume Carbonnier ''junior (moderate, May 1795-1800); * Under

Consulate A consulate is the office of a consul. A type of mission, it is usually subordinate to the state's main representation in the capital of that foreign country (host state), usually an embassy (or, only between two Commonwealth countries, a ...

and French Empire : ** Antoine Prouzet ''junior'' (moderate, May 1800-September 1805Give his demission.); ** Jean-Baptiste Roussellier (moderate, September 1805; ** Pierre Paulet (1805–1808); ** Antoine Prouzet ''junior'' (moderate, 1808-January 1813); ** Étienne de Bonafoux (

ultraroyalist The Ultra-royalists (, collectively Ultras) were a French political faction from 1815 to 1830 under the Bourbon Restoration. An Ultra was usually a member of the nobility of high society who strongly supported Roman Catholicism as the state an ...

, January 1813-April 1815); * Guillaume Carbonnier-Bousquet (moderate, April–July 1815); * Under the

Bourbon Restoration Bourbon Restoration may refer to: France under the House of Bourbon: * Bourbon Restoration in France (1814, after the French revolution and Napoleonic era, until 1830; interrupted by the Hundred Days in 1815) Spain under the Spanish Bourbons: * Ab ...

: ** Étienne de Bonafoux (ultraroyalist, July 1815-February 1819) ; ** Jean-Baptiste Roussellier (liberal, March 1819-January 1824); ** Louis-Auguste de Galhaut (royalist, January 1924-October 1830); * Under the

July Monarchy The July Monarchy (), officially the ''Kingdom of France'' (), was a liberalism, liberal constitutional monarchy in France under , starting on 9 August 1830, after the revolutionary victory of the July Revolution of 1830, and ending 26 Februar ...

: ** Étienne de Besson (moderate royalist, October 1830-January 1831); ** Jean-Pierre Prouzet (orleanist, January 1831-December 1832); ** Guillaume Carbonnier-Bousquet (liberal, January 1833-March 1837); ** Pierre Gautier (royalist, July–October 1837Deceased during his term of office.); ** Léonce Allut (orleanist, June 1838-February 1848); ** Maurice de Cray (royalist, March 1848-?); * From 1848 to 1905 (Second and Third Republic) : ''to complete'' * From 1905 to 1944 : ** Léon Fontanieu (socialist, March 1905-October 1907); ** Louis Barbusse (socialist, December 1907-May 1908); **Jean Joujou (

anarcho-syndicalist Anarcho-syndicalism is an anarchist organisational model that centres trade unions as a vehicle for class conflict. Drawing from the theory of libertarian socialism and the practice of syndicalism, anarcho-syndicalism sees trade unions as both ...

, May 1908-October 1910); ** ''Barbier'', leader of the municipal commission (

independent politician An independent politician or non-affiliated politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or Bureaucracy, bureaucratic association. There are numerous reasons why someone may stand for office as an independent. Some politicia ...

, November 1910-January 1911); ** Louis Pioch (socialist, 1911-?); ** Augustin Pourreau (royalist, until 1919); ** Pierre Jalabert (1919); ** Augustin Pourreau (

Action Française ''Action Française'' (, AF; ) is a French far-right monarchist and nationalist political movement. The name was also given to a journal associated with the movement, '' L'Action Française'', sold by its own youth organization, the Camelot ...

, v. 1920-1944); * Since

Liberation Liberation or liberate may refer to: Film and television * ''Liberation'' (film series), a 1970–1971 series about the Great Patriotic War * "Liberation" (''The Flash''), a TV episode * "Liberation" (''K-9''), an episode Gaming * '' Liberati ...

: ** Leaders of the Comité de Libération : *** ''Jean Jourdan'' (

Anarchist Anarchism is a political philosophy and Political movement, movement that seeks to abolish all institutions that perpetuate authority, coercion, or Social hierarchy, hierarchy, primarily targeting the state (polity), state and capitalism. A ...

, 1944); *** René Bernard (1944); *** Louis Guiraud (

, 1944); ** Roger de Lestrade, temporary mayor (1945); ** Joseph Chatellier ( PCF, 1945–1963); ** Albert Fontanieu (SFIO, 1963–1977); ** René Dupont ( PCF, 1977–1989); ** Jean Bruchet (

Parti Socialiste ''Parti Socialiste'' (Socialist Party) may refer to: * Parti Socialiste (Belgium) * Parti Socialiste (France) * Parti Socialiste (Mauritius) (PS), see List of political parties in Mauritius * Parti Socialiste Mauricien (PSM), see List of polit ...

, 1989–2008); ** Jean-Paul Franc (

, since March 2008).

Sport

The commune's football team is the Stade Olympique of Aimargues (SOA). In the beginning of may a famous international tournament take place every year. The local rugby team is Aimargues Rugby Club also named the ''Raouba-vesso''. There are in Aimargues two stadiums : Baptistin Guigue's Stadium and René Dupont's Stadium (former Bella Vista's Stadium); to equestrian centres; and the arena Léopold Dupont.

Media

Aimargues has its own newspaper: ''Aimargues le journal'', created in 2008. Aimargues is also covered by the daily newspaper ''

Midi Libre ''Midi Libre'' () is a French daily newspaper in Montpellier Montpellier (; ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpelli ...

'', by the local television TV SUD Camargue Cévennes et by France 3 Sud's programs.

Religion

There are Catholic and Protestant churches in Aimargues. The catholic parishes are parts of the

deanery A deanery (or decanate) is an ecclesiastical entity in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, the Evangelical Church in Germany, and the Church of Norway. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of ...

Vauvert Vauvert (; ) is a commune in the far south of the Gard department in southern France. It was known as ''Posquières'' in the Middle Ages. The commune comprises the town of Vauvert and the villages of Gallician and Montcalm.

and the

Diocese of Nîmes In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...

. The mass is assumed by deanery's desservants priests. The

Reformed Church of France The Reformed Church of France (, ERF) was the main Protestant denomination in France with a Calvinist orientation that could be traced back directly to John Calvin. In 2013, the Church merged with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in France to ...

maintains the ''Ensemble paroissial de Aimargues''.

Education

The public ''maternelle'' (preschool/nursery) is École Ventadour. The public primary school is École élémentaire publique Guillierme F. The ''collège'' (junior high school) serving the community is Collège de Gallargues-le-Montueux, located in

Gallargues-le-Montueux Gallargues-le-Montueux (; ) is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. Geography Gallargues-le-Montueux is situated near the river Vidourle, 6 km northeast of Lunel and 20 km southwest of Nîmes. Gallargues station ha ...

. In addition to Aimargues and Gallargues-le-Montueux, it also serves Aigues-Vives. It opened in September 2014. it has about 600 students. There is also a private Catholic elementary school in Aimargues, École élémentaire privée Notre Dame des Gardians.École élémentaire privée Notre Dame des Gardians
"

French Ministry of Education The Ministry of National Education and Youth, or simply Ministry of National Education, as the title has changed several times in the course of the Fifth Republic, is the cabinet member in the Government of France who oversees the country's pu ...

. Retrieved on July 15, 2017.

Notable residents

* Georges de Coursule, baron de Saint-Rémy. * Pierre Melchior d'Azémar (or d'Adhémar), prefect of Var. *

Louis-Étienne Ricard Louis-Étienne Ricard (July 10, 1740 – January 6, 1814) was a French politician who served as a member of the National Assembly for Gard Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population ...

, politician. * Jean-César Vincens-Plauchut, politician. * François Joseph Pamphile de Lacroix (1774–1841), general. * François-Isidore de Ricard, Louis-Étienne' son, politician. * Paulin d'Anglas de Praviel. * Charles de Surville, politician. * Paul Ménard-Dorian, politician. *

Pauline Ménard-Dorian Pauline Ménard-Dorian (; 21 July 1870 – 24 December 1941) was a French woman of letters and a literary salon hostess of La Belle Époque. Early life and family Pauline Ménard-Dorian was born at the Château du Fraisse on 21 July 1870 to P ...

, writer,

Marcel Proust Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust ( ; ; 10 July 1871 – 18 November 1922) was a French novelist, literary critic, and essayist who wrote the novel (in French – translated in English as ''Remembrance of Things Past'' and more r ...

's muse. *

Fanfonne Guillierme Fanfonne Guillierme born Antoinette Guillierme (October 31, 1895, in Paris and died on January 22, 1989, in Aimargues) was a French manadière. She is known as "the Grande Dame of the Camargue The Camargue (, also , , ; ) is a coastal regi ...

, manadière. * Jean Jourdan, a.k.a. ''Chocho'', anarchist militant. * Gaston Bêchard, socialist militant, syndicalist. *

Michel Stahl Michel Stalh (1914–1989) was a French Resistance, resistant and a pastor of the Reformed Church. He was a ''compagnon de la Libération''. He joined the Free France in June 1940. He was made ''compagnon de la Libération'' by a decree of 7 Augu ...

compagnon de la Libération The Order of Liberation (, ) is a French Order which was awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is a worn by recipients only before the ''Légion d’Honneur'' (Legion of Honour). In the official portrait of Gen ...

, pastor of the Reformed Church. *

Léopold Dupont Leopold may refer to: People * Leopold (given name), including a list of people named Leopold or Léopold * Leopold (surname) Fictional characters * Leopold (''The Simpsons''), Superintendent Chalmers' assistant on ''The Simpsons'' * Leopold B ...

, raseteur. *

Pierre Torreilles Pierre Torreilles (21 May 1921- 22 February 2005) was a French writer, poet and editor. Works (by chronological order) ;Collections of poems * ''Noces d'Ea et Nin-Ki''. Montpellier : impr. de H. Sauramps, 1950, 57 p. * ''Solve et coagula''. P ...

, writer, poet, editor. * Jean-François Galéa, painter. * ''Michel Mathes'', a.k.a.

Michel Falguières Michel may refer to: * Michel (name), a given name or surname of French origin (and list of people with the name) * Míchel (nickname), a nickname (a list of people with the nickname, mainly Spanish footballers) * Míchel (footballer, born 1963), ...

, writer. * Thierry Félix, raseteur. *

Laurent Pit Laurent may refer to: *Laurent (name), a French masculine given name and a surname **Saint Laurence (aka: Saint ''Laurent''), the martyr Laurent **Pierre Alphonse Laurent, mathematician **Joseph Jean Pierre Laurent, amateur astronomer, discoverer ...

, humorist.