Vaunage
Encyclopedia
The Vaunage is an area of southern France
made up of the plain and the small hills around Nages
. It is known for its oppidum
. The Vaunage area is located between Languedoc
and Provence
and between Sommières
and Nîmes
. It is north of the Camargue
.
From east to west the villages of Vaunage are: Caveirac
, Clarensac
, Langlade
, Saint-Dionizy
, Nages-et-Solorgues
, Calvisson
, Boissières
, Saint-Côme-et-Maruéjols
, Congénies
.
The valley is a furrowed combe
at the edge of the garrigue
s plateau, surrounded by 200m-high hills that isolate it from the surroundings. There are two natural entrances, one to east coming from Nîmes
, and one to the south towards Vergèze
.
This geographical situation has led to a strong regional identity.
Le Camisard
chief, Jean Cavalier
called it "petite Chanaan", little Canaan.
This is an agricultural region, rich in history. There are hundreds of archaeological sites in this small area.
These valleys have been populated for over 2,000 years. Six oppida, dominated by that at Nages, were home to the Volques, who built them in the 8th century BC and remained there till the 1st century AD :
However it is the oppidum of Nages that has provided the richest archeological finds.
This region has a strong Protestant history, and is today predominantly Protestant. Congénies
is unique in France in having a Quaker Meeting House and cemetery. One finds many recent chateaux, mas and bastides. The Camargue traditions such as the running of the bulls happen in each village.
The soil is argilo-calcaire so the flora is essentially that of the garrigue- and this leads to fine wines. However, the region is being targeted by the expanding housing needs of Nîmes. The former railway has been transformed into a cycle way,«voie verte» opening the Vaunage to Green Tourism.http://240plan.ovh.net/~afv/FicheVoie.php?voie=Voie%20Verte%20de%20la%20Vaunage
Poème sur la Vaunage (Voyage autour de la Vaunage de Maurice Aliger, membre de l'Académie de Nîmes. Page 30. Imprimerie BENE. 1983) :
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...
made up of the plain and the small hills around Nages
Nages-et-Solorgues
Nages-et-Solorgues is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
. It is known for its oppidum
Oppidum
Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space," possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pedóm-, "occupied space" or "footprint."Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age...
. The Vaunage area is located between Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
and Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
and between Sommières
Sommières
Sommières is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.It lies from Nîmes, 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:...
and Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
. It is north of the Camargue
Camargue
The Camargue is the region located south of Arles, France, between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhône River delta. The eastern arm is called the Grand Rhône; the western one is the Petit Rhône....
.
From east to west the villages of Vaunage are: Caveirac
Caveirac
Caveirac is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Clarensac
Clarensac
Clarensac is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:...
, Langlade
Langlade, Gard
Langlade is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Saint-Dionizy
Saint-Dionizy
Saint-Dionisy is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
, Nages-et-Solorgues
Nages-et-Solorgues
Nages-et-Solorgues is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Calvisson
Calvisson
Calvisson is a commune in the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.It lies between Nîmes, Montpellier, the Cevennes and the Camargue and has a strong Protestant history.-Geography:...
, Boissières
Boissières, Gard
Boissières is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Saint-Côme-et-Maruéjols
Saint-Côme-et-Maruéjols
Saint-Côme-et-Maruéjols is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Congénies
Congénies
Congénies is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.It is situated between Nîmes, Montpellier, the Cevennes and the Camargue and has a strong Protestant Quaker history...
.
Demography
According to the 1999 census, The population of the Vaunage was 15,250, the area being 9981 ha.- BoissièresBoissières, GardBoissières is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: 485 area 333 ha - CalvissonCalvissonCalvisson is a commune in the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.It lies between Nîmes, Montpellier, the Cevennes and the Camargue and has a strong Protestant history.-Geography:...
: 4725 area 2897 ha - CaveiracCaveiracCaveirac is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: 3860 area 1479 ha - ClarensacClarensacClarensac is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:...
: 3117 area 1449 ha - CongéniesCongéniesCongénies is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.It is situated between Nîmes, Montpellier, the Cevennes and the Camargue and has a strong Protestant Quaker history...
: 1672 area 864 ha - LangladeLanglade, GardLanglade is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: 2850 area 900 ha - Nages-et-SolorguesNages-et-SolorguesNages-et-Solorgues is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: 1150 area 18 ha - Saint-Côme-et-MaruéjolsSaint-Côme-et-MaruéjolsSaint-Côme-et-Maruéjols is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
: 580 area 1400 ha - Saint-DionizySaint-DionizySaint-Dionisy is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
: 1050 area 641 ha
History
The name is a contraction of "Vallée de Nages", the valley of Nages.The valley is a furrowed combe
Combe
-English place names:* Combe, Berkshire* Combe, Buckfastleigh, Devon* Combe, Yealmpton, Devon* Combe, Herefordshire* Combe, Oxfordshire* Combe, Somerset-Places in England with combe as one word in part of their name:Cumbria* Black CombeDevon...
at the edge of the garrigue
Garrigue
Garrigue or phrygana is a type of low, soft-leaved scrubland ecoregion and plant community in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome. It is found on limestone soils around the Mediterranean Basin, generally near the seacoast, where the climate is ameliorated, but where annual summer...
s plateau, surrounded by 200m-high hills that isolate it from the surroundings. There are two natural entrances, one to east coming from Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, and one to the south towards Vergèze
Vergèze
Vergèze is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
.
This geographical situation has led to a strong regional identity.
Le Camisard
Camisard
Camisards were French Protestants of the rugged and isolated Cevennes region of south-central France, who raised an insurrection against the persecutions which followed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685...
chief, Jean Cavalier
Jean Cavalier
Jean Cavalier, real name Joan Cavalièr in Occitan, , the famous chief of the Camisards, was born at Mas Roux, a small hamlet in the commune of Ribaute near Anduze .-Early life:...
called it "petite Chanaan", little Canaan.
This is an agricultural region, rich in history. There are hundreds of archaeological sites in this small area.
These valleys have been populated for over 2,000 years. Six oppida, dominated by that at Nages, were home to the Volques, who built them in the 8th century BC and remained there till the 1st century AD :
- Oppidum de Nages-et-SolorguesOppidum de NagesThe Oppidum de Nages or Oppidum des Castels is on a hilltop overlooking the valley called the Vaunage, above the village of Nages-et-Solorgues, in Gard, between Nîmes et Sommières, in Languedoc-Rousillon, France...
; in the commune of the same name; - Oppidum de Roque de ViouOppidum de Roque de ViouThe Oppidum de Roque de Viou is on a hilltop overlooking the valley called the Vaunage, above the village of Nages-et-Solorgues, in Gard, between Nîmes et Sommières, in Languedoc-Rousillon, France. It is in the commune of Saint-Dionizy and is one of six iron-age oppida in the Vaunage; about 200m...
, in the commune of Saint-DionizySaint-DionizySaint-Dionisy is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
; - Oppidum de la Liquière, above the hamlet of Sinsans, in the commune of CalvissonCalvissonCalvisson is a commune in the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.It lies between Nîmes, Montpellier, the Cevennes and the Camargue and has a strong Protestant history.-Geography:...
; - Oppidum de la Font du Coucou above Calvisson ;
- Oppidum du Roc de Gachonne above Calvisson ;
- Oppidum de Mauressip or "Mouressipe", in the commune of Saint-Côme-et-MaruéjolsSaint-Côme-et-MaruéjolsSaint-Côme-et-Maruéjols is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
.
However it is the oppidum of Nages that has provided the richest archeological finds.
This region has a strong Protestant history, and is today predominantly Protestant. Congénies
Congénies
Congénies is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.It is situated between Nîmes, Montpellier, the Cevennes and the Camargue and has a strong Protestant Quaker history...
is unique in France in having a Quaker Meeting House and cemetery. One finds many recent chateaux, mas and bastides. The Camargue traditions such as the running of the bulls happen in each village.
The soil is argilo-calcaire so the flora is essentially that of the garrigue- and this leads to fine wines. However, the region is being targeted by the expanding housing needs of Nîmes. The former railway has been transformed into a cycle way,«voie verte» opening the Vaunage to Green Tourism.http://240plan.ovh.net/~afv/FicheVoie.php?voie=Voie%20Verte%20de%20la%20Vaunage
Literature
Cartulaire de Nîmes (en 955, occitan, cited by Idebert Exbrayat, in Si la Vaunage m'était contée, Nouvelle Édition, 1992) :- Sé la Vaunagea éro un moton,
- Sant Comé en sérié lou rognon.
- E poudés passa dés partot,
- Sant Donisé en sérié la flou.
Poème sur la Vaunage (Voyage autour de la Vaunage de Maurice Aliger, membre de l'Académie de Nîmes. Page 30. Imprimerie BENE. 1983) :
- Généreuse et opulente Vaunage,
- triplement riche
- du fruit de l'olivier,
- de vins ensoleillés
- et de blonds chasselas ;
- Generous and opulent Vaunage, three times rich
- its olives
- its sunbaked red wines
- and fair chasselasChasselasChasselas or Chasselas Blanc is a wine grape variety grown in Switzerland, France, Germany, Portugal, Baja Norte, Mexico, Hungary and New Zealand.Theories of its origin vary. Pierre Galet believes it is a native Swiss variety....
Sources
- Les Oppida de la Vaunage, du VIIIe au IIIe siècle avant JC. Dossier réalisé par Geneviève Paillet, Hélène Peyre, Ghislaine Richard, sous la dir. de Maryse Clary, avec l'aide scientifique de Michel Py, Editions CNDP, Nîmes, 1986, ISBN 90-376-0431-5.