Gignac

Common middle valley of the Hérault, Gignac is a city rich in tradition and history. Local traditions are deeply rooted and are perpetuated from generation to generation.

Every year, the day of the Ascension, the city celebrates the ass Gignac, totemic animal of the city.

Gignac is also a town rich in heritage. You can discover the detour lanes surprising richness of its facades, doors and impressive fountains and monuments dating back to the earliest 13th century.

Municipality	Gignac
Postcode	34150
Latitude	43.6532410 (N 43° 39’ 12”)
Longitude	3.5513640 (E 3° 33’ 5”)
Altitude	From 28m to 286m
Surface area	29.85 km²
Population	6725 inhabitants
Density	225 inhabitants/km²
Prefecture	Montpellier (30 km, 31 min)
Insee code	34114
Intercommunality	CC Vallée de l'Hérault
Department	Hérault
Territory	Languedoc-Roussillon
Region	Occitanie

Lagamas	3.8 km (7 min)
Saint-André-de-Sangonis	3.8 km (6 min)
Aniane	4.9 km (7 min)
Popian	5.8 km (8 min)
Pouzols	6 km (8 min)
Saint-Bauzille-de-la-Sylve	6.4 km (9 min)
Montpeyroux	6.9 km (9 min)
Ceyras	7.9 km (10 min)
Saint-Félix-de-Lodez	8.6 km (8 min)
Brignac	8.7 km (13 min)
Saint-Jean-de-Fos	9.2 km (12 min)
Canet	9.6 km (10 min)
Puéchabon	9.7 km (12 min)
Arboras	9.8 km (16 min)

Church of Our Lady of Grace and his oratory: This church is located on a former site that dates back to the Roman goddess Vesta (goddess of the hearth). The current building dates from the seventeenth century. His Florentine-style facade was completed in 1648 by order of Louis XIII. Sanctuary in miracles, healing is first attested September 8 1360. The adjoining the Cross dates from the seventeenth and nineteenth century. It was restored in the twentieth century.
Commander of Mestre Place: Visible vestiges of the medieval ramparts (thirteenth century) and the gates of the town (and Portalet Estagnol). In the Middle Ages, Gignac had eight doors. The wash of the nineteenth century.
Saracen Tower Gignac: Only remnant of Castrum still visible, dates from the thirteenth century. This imposing square tower promontory recalls his appearance that Gignac belonged during the Middle Ages in the Diocese of Béziers. Defensive in the beginning, it was reused as a water reservoir in the nineteenth century.
Rue Saint-Michel: This is one of the two main arteries of the historic center, on top of which stood the St. Michaelis church, destroyed during the wars of religion whose location is reported today by a cross.
St. Peter Parish Church of St. Peter in Chains in the seventeenth century and the nineteenth gallery organ. Facade and bell tower of the eighteenth century.
Place de Verdun / Victory Square: Today is the shopping area of the city with its market on Saturday morning. We see the Fontaine and Molière (eighteenth century) which recalls the passage of the writer and actor in the city.
Grand Street: This is the second main street of the medieval town. Facades of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame, Palace of Justice, the Hospices and the Hotel de Laurès (building). This was the residence of Claude-Daniel Laurès (1701-1776), illustrates gignacois, advise the court of auditors, who in his "memoirs" gives us a precious testimony of the life of the city from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. Long forgotten, this book has just been reissued.
Clock Tower: Last vestige of medieval defenses of the city. One time, the city was called "Tourette's" because of the large number of these imposing circular towers that protected the city gates.
Place du Planol: Navas House, eighteenth-century façade decorated with friezes carved with plant motifs that symbolize the wealth of the owner.
Rue of the Court of viguerie * See, door and facade of the seventeenth century entrance. (* House, where sat the royal judges in the provinces of Languedoc until the revolution).
Bridge Gignac: Cited as one of the most remarkable bridges French of the eighteenth century, it majestically spans the river Herault. Its construction started in 1776 by Bertrand Garripuy last 36 years and will be interrupted during the revolution.
Channel Gignac: At the end of the nineteenth century to combat the epidemic of phylloxera, the irrigation of the plain wine will be organized by the construction of a canal several kilometers long across the vineyards of the valley Hérault. It crosses the city from the rue du Maréchal Joffre at the bottom of the tower over six hundred and fifty meters of underground pipes.
Hydraulic Museum: The former hydroelectric plant, located on the banks of the Hérault river, is an exemplary witness of the will and courage of a municipality to invest long term comfort of its inhabitants. First a simple pumping system, which from 1860 provisioned Gignac water through a water wheel called the "Meuse" region. Visits for groups by reservation: Tel. : +33 4 67 57 00 03.
Guided tours: "Let's take you time to few hours and go discover a village full of history...". The Intercommunal Tourist Office offers year-round guided tour of Gignac. Groups by reservation at the Tourist Office Intercommunal Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert / Valley of the Hérault to Gignac: Tel. : +33 4 67 57 00 03 - Email: oti@saintguilhem-valleeherault.fr

Information points	Inter-communal Tourist Office Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert - Vallée de l'Hérault
Monuments	Church Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Church Saint-Pierre
Performance halls	Cultural Space of Gignac

The weekly market every Saturday morning.
Local traditions are deeply rooted and are perpetuated from generation to generation. Every year in May, the city celebrates the Ascension celebrating the donkey Martin, the totemic animal.

Baby Donkey: Legend has it that on Ascension Day in the year 719, a donkey is awakened by his braying gignacois while Saracens were ready to invade the village. The donkey would have helped repel the invasion. Consequently, he became the totemic animal of Gignac. Each year, this colorful event is celebrated on the day of the Ascension. The day before to 19h, the donkey represented with a large frame covered with a blue dress, topped by a head with jaws rattle loudly, is paraded through the streets surrounded by costumed dancers. Mimes and dances then start at the sound of fife and drum and continue on Ascension Day.
Sénibelet: The "Sénibelet" commemorates the heroic resistance of the people against the invaders Gignac Saracens. This fight mimed occurs parallel to the feast of the ass, the day of the Ascension. Man representing buckwheat puts several nightcaps before placing a heavy metal helmet on his head. His sole weapon a long stick alisier representing a sword. The gignacois meanwhile, have weapons roots "trentanel" from the surrounding scrubland and cushion straw to protect the back of blows given by the "Saracen".

Exposition d’Anne de Tonnac

From 29 march to 7 may 2024
22 Place du Jeu de Ballon
Exhibition of works by the artist - Anne de Tonnac.

Exposition à la Vérand'a

From 7 april to 4 may 2024
Rue Louise Michel
The Vé-rand ? A artists ? Collective is holding an exhibition from Sunday April 7 to May 4, from 2pm to 6pm, then on workshop days (from 2.30pm to 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays).

Exposition d’Iris

From 15 april to 15 may 2024
Avenue du Mas Faugère
To enjoy this colorful spectacle, stroll through the aisles, breathing in the marvelous diversity of fragrances. - As you stroll along, you'll be able to admire the collection of 400 varieties of iris. If you wish, you can order rhizomes or choose pots to take home.

Atelier Confection d’un Goûter Fait Maison

On 23 april 2024
As part of Nature and Environment Week. After school, the mescladis invites you to share a family snack made by yourselves.

Atelier Expériences Autour de l’eau, les Orages et les Éclairs

On 24 april 2024
10 Rue Pierre Curie
For families from 6 to 10 years old / registration required - Experiment with water and create a miniature wastewater treatment plant

Atelier Recyclage de Tissus

On 24 april 2024
Place du Jeu de Ballon
Manufacture of Tawashi - (Japanese sponges) and bags - For families - Children aged 7 and over - With Demain la Terre !

Observation des Insectes du Jardin

On 24 april 2024
For children aged 6 months to 3 years, between 10.30am and 11.30am. Discover insects in their environment in the Mescalis garden.

Nettoyage du Fleuve en Canoe - Semaine de la Nature et de l'Environnement

On 24 april 2024
Chemin de la Meuse
With Gignac Canoé Kayak, take part in the clean-up of the river banks, starting from the Meuse nautical base. All levels.

Atelier Numérique « à la Découverte des Secrets de la Nature »

On 24 april 2024
The ocean, the garden and the pond through small digital games. Over a period of 1 hour, children will take turns being explorers and creators. - For 6-8 year-olds, free with registration.

Découverte des Plantes Sauvages des Rues et Trottoirs

On 25 april 2024
Take a stroll through the streets of the city center to familiarize yourself with so-called "weeds" and learn more about them, appreciate them and contribute to participatory science initiatives. - With Jean Burger, amateur naturalist and volunteer with Demain la Terre !

Curiosities:

The gorges of the Hérault.
Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert.
Lake Salagou.
The circus of Mourèze.
The circus Navacelles.
The Clamouse cave...

Specialties: Wines - Olives - Olive oil - Honey.
Sports and Recreation: Caving-Canyoning - Canoeing - Hiking - Mountain Biking - Karting - Golf - Quad - Paintball...

Last name	Activity type	Rate	City
Canyoning in the Devil's Canyon in the Hérault Gorges	Sports sensations	45 €	Saint-André-de-Sangonis (3.4 km)
Workout in the countryside	Sports sensations	45 € to 168 €	Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (4.5 km)
Quad discovery trek at Lake Salagou	Entertainment	130 € to 165 €	Lacoste (9.4 km)
Wine-themed quad bike ride	Nature and the great outdoors	155 € to 215 €	Lacoste (9.4 km)
Guided tour of an oyster farm with introduction to tasting	Local flavours	4 € to 9 €	Loupian (25 km)

Last name	Outing type	Difficulty	Duration	Departure municipality
Le Clos d'Alice	Horse ride	Easy	1:00	Le Pouget (7.1 km)
The Roc de la Jarre	Hike	Easy	7:55	Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (10 km)
The scrubland Trail	Hike	Intermediate	2:00	Péret (10.9 km)
Around the royal manufacture of Villeneuvette	Village visit	Easy	1:00	Péret (13 km)
Volcanic balconies	Hike	Intermediate	3:00	Lieuran-Cabrières (13.1 km)

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Gignac

Gignac

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Hérault

Geographical information

Nearest cities & towns

Things to see and do

Places of interest

Events and festivities

Photos

Weather

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Outings

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

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