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Near Montpellier and Mediterranean beaches History Under the Roman empire, Pzenas (Piscenae) developed because of its geographical position on the Roman "routes". In 1261, Pzenas became a Royal Seigniory; her
trade fairs (3x per year) took on importance. At the time of the Albigensian crusade, the city became
the property of Simon de Monfort and was then passed on to
Saint-Louis. In the middle of the 15th century, Pzenas became the center for gathering of the Etats Generaux of the Languedoc region. Pzenas was at the peak of her strength in the
17th century until Richelieu reacted against the revolt and
destroyed the castle. Between 1650 and 1657, Molire stayed with his theatrical company and performed for the Prince of Conti. He went almost daily to the barber shop belonging to his friend Gely, where he drew inspiration for theatrical characters by observing the townspeople. He left Pzenas for Paris when he lost the patronage of the prince. In the 17th century, thanks to the revival of its trade
fairs, which had known their hour of glory in the Middle-ages,
Pzenas played an economic role beyond the city itself. The advent of the railway in the 19th century made its
mark without Pzenas. Despite the demands made by the city,
the authorities of the time decided on a coastal railway system. In
consequence, the city's economic activities declined, and
Pzenas lost much of its influence. This result, on the
other hand, has allowed the city to preserve its heritage. The architectural heritage of Pzenas is made
of numerous constructions from the 16th through the 18th century,
the 17th century being the most represented. Several examples
include: private mansions of Barons de Lacoste, Hotel des Flottes
de Cbazan, Hotel de Platavit, Hotel des landes de Saint
Palais, Hotel d'Alfonce, Gely's barber shop, several churches and
chapels (collgiale Saint Jean, Eglise Sainte Ursule,
ancient chapel of the Pnitents Noirs). The Museum Vulloid- Saint Germain The museum was founded in 1945 and installed in the Saint
Germain hotel, whose 16th century edifice was restored in the 19th
century. Center for Artistic Professions 6, Place Gambetta The Center was set up to promote craftsmanship in such manual
arts as iron-, stone-, and woodworking, as well as technical jobs
of the stage (the presence of Molire in the city explains
this). International exhibitions are organized throughout the
year. Visit Of The Old City A stroll in the old city in the company of a guide from the Center for Historical Monuments. Commentary available in English, Spanish, German and Italian. For reservations : 04 67 98 36 40 or 04 67 98 35 45. Htel d'Alfonce Situated at 32 rue Conti, this beautiful private mansion of the
17th century was used as a theater by Molire for several
months. Its interior courtyard, railings and stairs date from the
15th century. Art Galleries
Le Poulain This seven-century-old tradition consists of a parade through
the village with an enormous wooden horse covered with a starry
blue cloth. It commemorates the birth in Pezenas of King Louis
VIII's mare's foal during the king's stay in Pzenas in
1226. Carried by nine strong men, the Poulain opens
all of the city's celebrations
Le tambourin This ancient ball game is a variant of the famous "jeu de paume". All the ball games of Antiquity and of the regimes before the Revolution are the source of Tambourin. The Aztecs and the Egyptians seem to have been the first to play ball games. The Hebrews, Greeks and Romans continued this practice. In the "jeu de paume" , the first points marked were counted 15, 30 and 45, then the game was won. Since 1938, the game of Tambourin has been regulated by a federation which organizes official meetings. There are over 2,000 features and articles on this site about French life and living in France. Do browse through our website and please use the advertising links, they help pay for the site. I do try to reply to all mail - Contact Me - most is about property or living in France. I publish comments in this newsletter which I believe are of interest and may help find answers for people wanting to come to France. I hope readers will go to the adverts which help support our overheads.
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