Nizas, Hérault
Encyclopedia
Nizas 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.
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. 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. “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. 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.
Sights=
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 wall
s 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.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Hérault
Hérault
Hérault is a department in the south of France named after the Hérault river.-History:Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
department in Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the 27 regions of France. It comprises five departments, and borders the other French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées on the one side, and Spain, Andorra and the Mediterranean sea on the other side.-Geography:The region is...
in southern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It lies near the Pézenas
Pézenas
Pézenas is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon, southern France. At the 1999 census, its population was 7443.-Name:...
. The inhabitants of the village of Nizas are called Nizaçois.
| Coat of arms Coat of arms A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth... D'azur à une tour donjonnée de trois tourelles d'argent maçonnées de sable Blue background with the tower crowned with three small silver towers built of sandstone |
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, both from the Chalcolithic period.The origins of the village of Nizas are certainly Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, although there are remains from Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
amphora
Amphora
An amphora is a type of vase-shaped, usually ceramic container with two handles and a long neck narrower than the body...
manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
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. Following the collapse of the Carolingian empire
Carolingian Empire
Carolingian Empire is a historiographical term which has been used to refer to the realm of the Franks under the Carolingian dynasty in the Early Middle Ages. This dynasty is seen as the founders of France and Germany, and its beginning date is based on the crowning of Charlemagne, or Charles the...
, 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. “Castro Nizacio” is mentioned in time of crusades (1094–1114). The circulade
Circulade
In the Languedoc-Roussillon region of the south of France, a circulade is a traditional village that has been built in concentric circles. The center, which one might expect to be the site of a château-fort or a parish church, is as often as not, empty, as air photography demonstrates...
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
Ancient Diocese of Lodève
The Bishopric of Lodève is a former Roman Catholic diocese in southern France. Its episcopal see was located in Lodève, in the modern department of Hérault. Its territory is now part of the archdiocese of Montpellier.-History:...
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. The Carrion-Nizas family remained the lords of the village until the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. 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.
Sights=
The present village dates from the tenth century with extensive building in the 12th and 13th centuries giving the characteristic shape of a circulade
Circulade
In the Languedoc-Roussillon region of the south of France, a circulade is a traditional village that has been built in concentric circles. The center, which one might expect to be the site of a château-fort or a parish church, is as often as not, empty, as air photography demonstrates...
. This is tight spiral configuration with the outer buildings having thick (up to 3 meters in places) stone wall
Stone wall
Stone walls are a kind of masonry construction which have been made for thousands of years. First they were constructed by farmers and primitive people by piling loose field stones in what is called a dry stone wall, then later with the use of mortar and plaster especially in the construction of...
s 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. 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. The church is open for worship and visits only during the time of service.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