- Location:
- Large village of 2030 inhabitants, which three hamlets Cazal-Viel, and Lugne Reais, are attached, Cessenon-sur-Orb is an attractive center for the surrounding municipalities, all less than 9 km (Cazedarnes, Causses-et-Veyran, St. Nazaire-de-Ladarez, Roquebrun, vines, Prades-sur-Vernazobres). Cessenon is also halfway between the foothills of the Cevennes (Caroux and the mountains of Espinouse) and the Mediterranean coast (30 km Valras beach).
- At an altitude of 51 meters, 80 to the tower. Cessenon-sur-Orb is crossed by the Orb river, which stretches 145 km along the walls to strengthen downstream. Famous for its rapids, canoe and kayak competitions are organized international.
- History:
- Cessenon-sur-Orb, nestled on a hillside in a bend of the Orb, is one of the oldest cities of the Languedoc. Once the capital of a manor of 30,000 acres, is now exhausted Cessenon than 1760 inhabitants and an area of 3750 hectares. The origin of its name: Celtic or Iberian.
- Halfway through the foothills of the Cevennes and the Mediterranean coast, has a natural beauty Cessenon one hand scrub and scrub rub giving a multiplicity and diversity of species carrying pleasant scents such as chestnut, holm oak, arbutus or juniper), and a strategic location on the other.
- Also conquests and occupations succeeded and many traces of various periods are still apparent: prehistoric (dolmens, tumuli, flint) and Saracen Visigoth period (places called "Maurerie, Sarrazy" Muslim graves, water wheels, chadouf) Roman (amphorae, burials, funeral fragment of bas-relief, villa); it was not until the year 973 after a study of the cartulary as confirmation of its age is revealed.
- Garsinde, widow of the Count of Toulouse gives his castle to the abbey of Saint-Pons. Garsinde of his daughter Adelaide, 4th of Aton his wife Cecile de Provence, Raymond Trencavel Cessenon to Hugh, lords and kings coveted the village.
- But in the 13th century, the Cathars occupied the south of France, Pope Innocent the third is then preach a crusade against them and in 1229 an army led by Simon de Montfort, then opposed the Crusaders eighth louis north to the lords of the south . The feudal period ends with the annexation of Languedoc to the royal domain, the regal period begins.
- In 1247, St. Louis gave the lordship of Cessenon the seneschal of Carcassonne Hugues d'Arcis. To begin Cessenon oppressed by an evil day the bailiffs.
- In the early 17th century, a true dynasty of hereditary lords, of the Fraissinet Vessas born. The village is, however, the castle taken and retaken several times suffered many indignities. The passage of troops each time equivalent to a devastating plague. The largest such mutilations inflicted on him in 1582 during the wars of religion by men of Bacon and Captain in 1585 by Henri de Joyeuse.
- The villagers during a visit to Montpellier of Louis XIII, demand the demolition of the castle. It is effective in 1633. Only a massive tower guard tower serving the location of the fortress. Now the lords peacefully occupy their great noble house in the Rue de la Font Sweet.
- From 1640 and for a century and a half the family of the Princes of Conde de Conti enjoy the manor. After being named by Louis the 13th governor of Languedoc, the Count of Provence, brother of Louis the 16th buys. The revolution ousts the five years after. He became King Louis XVIII.
