﻿IW 



HfiRAULT. 



HERAULT. 



160 



•Tanca population to the squars mile for all France. The dopart- 

 BMntM formed out of a portion of Lower Languedoc 



The department ia tnTataed in the north and north-west by the 

 liower C^vennea, which attain the height of 4198 feet in the Eapinouie 

 tanse on the confines of Tarn, and of 4261 feet in the chain of Larzac, 

 or Latjao, extending northward from Lodire into the department of 

 Aveyron. From the main chain several ranges of hills of moderate 

 elevation branch off towards the south, gradually subsiding as they 

 approach the sea. The cultivable soil of the north and north-west 

 oonnsts of a chalky clay which produces only rye. The higher 

 mountains are in general barren, or covered with woods. The plains 

 in the interior, some of which are of large extent, consist of a light 

 gravelly soil, very favourable to the growUi of the vine and the olive. 

 Along the lower oounea of the Orb, the Hdrault, and the Viduurle, 

 and generally in the south of the department, the soil is a strong, 

 deep, rich loam, and very productive of all the cereal grains. Here 

 and there, all through the department, there are extensive wastes, 

 locally called 'garrigues,' thinly covered with shrubs, dwarf oak, 

 heath, broom, cistns, and aromatic plants, and producing tolerable 

 ooarae pasture. The department presents abundant evidence of 

 Tolcanic action at some distant period, particularly in the extinct 

 craters of Agde and of St-Thib<!ry, near PiSzenas, and in the basaltic 

 hills near Montpellier. Mont St.-Loup near Agde is a volcanic hill 

 and crater, which rises 752 feet above the sea-level ; and nearer the 

 sea is another volcanic circus called Conques. The crater of St.- 

 Thib^ry some miles north from Agde is surmounted by three cones, 

 the highest of which rises 636 feet above the sea. 



The coast-line, extending from the mouth of the Aude to that of 

 the Vidourle, measures 66 miles in length. The shore-lakes, or salt- 

 lagunes of .Thau, Maguelonne (so-called from the ancient city of 

 Maguelonne, which stood on the peninsula of Maguelonne, and of 

 which there remains a very interesting church), Pdrols, and Mauguio 

 extend eastward from Agde to the Vidourle ; they are seporated from 

 the Mediterranean by a narrow bank, in which however there are a 

 few openings called ' graus.' The Canal-des-Etonga, which joins the 

 Canal-du-Midi at Cette, passes through these shore-lakes. The Canal of 

 Cette connects the shore-lake of Thau with the sea. In the west of 

 the department are the lagunes of Vendres and Capestang ; the latter 

 is land-locked and stagnant The marshes round these two lagunes 

 have been drained to a considerable extent, and converted into arable 

 land. The neighbourhood of all the lagunes is marshy and 

 unhealthy; agues and rheumatic fevers prevail in the summer and 

 autumn, though to a less extent than formerly, owing to the partial 

 drainage and cultivation of the marshes. Except in the vicinity of 

 the lagtmes, the department enjoys a pure air and a most healthy 

 climate. 



The rivers of the department all rise in the Cdvennes, and flow 

 directly into the Mediterranean or into the shore-lakes. The prin- 

 cipal are — the VidourU, on the confines of Gard [GAnr)] ; the Ltz, 

 which paasea eaat of Montpellier, and becoming navigable takes the 

 name of Canal-de-Qrave ; the HCravll, rising in the nortb-weet of Gard, 

 and running sooth, enters the department to which it gives name 

 at Ganges ; here, having received the Ergue on the right bank, it 

 passes Montagnac and PdEenas, and enters the sea through the port 

 of Agde after a course of 80 miles, only 7 miles of which are navi- 

 gable ; the Orh, which, springing from the mountains west of Lodf^ve, 

 and flowing first south, then west till it meets the Jaur at Olargues, 

 and finally south-south-east, passes B<5ziers, having previously received 

 the Bemaaobre from the WMt, and enters the sea near St.-Genii» ; and 

 the Ande, which touches the western boundary. [Audi.] Near the 

 coast, most of the towns are joined to the Canals du-Midi and des- 

 Etanga by short canals, thus establishing a oommtmicatioQ with the 

 Rh6ne, the Garonne, and the Bay of Biscay. 



The department is croased by the high road from Paris to Spain, 

 through Perpignan, by S other state and 17 departmental roads. 

 Montpellier, the capital, communicates with Cette and Ntmes by 

 railroad ; and a railway is projected from Bordeaux through Toulouse 

 to Cette. [Gabo ; Crrrs.] 



The department contains 1,SIS,615 acres, of which 886,897 are 

 arable Und; 2S6,213 are under vineyards; 191,869 are covered with 

 woods; 21,096 are meadows and grass land; 71,066 are under 

 orchards, olive and mulberry plantations, nurseries, and difierent 

 kinds of culture ; 68,693 are covered with lagunes, rivers, canals, and 

 manhea; and about 600,000 acres consist of the waste land or 

 gan%uai described above. 



^'^"•t. fy*. barley, and oats are produced In qnantitv more than 

 ■nffldent for the consumption. There is a considerable breadth of 

 artificial meadows ; and largo crops of lucerne, sainfoin, and clover 

 are grown. For quantity of wine produced, U<Srault stands at the 

 haad of the wine-growing departments of France, the average annual 

 produce being 46)852,000 gallons. The red winea of St-Oeorges, St- 

 Chriatol, and St-DnSz^, the muscadal wines of Frontignan, Lunel, 

 and Miiwn, and the white wines of MarseDlan and Piuct are cou- 

 aidenM] the beat Fruits, especially raisins, olives, almnnds, figs, and 

 cheatDota, and all kinds of jiulae are grown. The mull:icrry is culti- 

 vated for the production of silk; aromatic and medicinal herbs, and 

 madder and other planta used for dye-stuffii are grown. The principal 

 m ate ri al of the woods are (he ohertnut and green and white oak. 



Sheep, cattle, and mules are numerous; game is very abundant ; and 

 fi.th, mcluding the johndor<S, tunny, oyster, lobster, anchovy, mackerel, 

 eel, &a are taken in immense quantities in the shore-lake* and in 

 the sea. 



The industrial products comprise woollen-cloths, silks, hoaiary, 

 calico, muslin, flannel, blankets, brandy, chemical products, pottery, 

 tiles, honey, perfumes, leather, oil, beer, paper, &o. There are also 

 numerous dye-houses, and establishments for the rearing of silkworms 

 and reeling silk. Ship-building is carried on at Cette and other 

 towns on the coast Mines of coal and copper, quarries of marble of 

 different colours and much used fur oi-nami-ntal architecture, 

 building- and mill-stone, slate, gypsum, and granite are woriced. A 

 vast dead of salt is made by evaporation on the lagunes and on the 

 shore of the Mediterranean, this department being one of the chief 

 sources for the supply of that article to France. The exports consist 

 of most of the nrticles enumerated, but chiefly of wine, dried fruits, 

 and brandy. The imports are wool, cotton bales, staves, colonial 

 produce, raw hides, cork, &c. The principal sea-ports are Cette and 

 Agde. There are 645 wind- and water-miUs, 11 iron forges and 

 foundries, and 861 factories of difl'erent soils. About 100 fairs are 

 held annually. 



The department is divided into four arrondissements, which, with 

 their subdivisions and population, are as follows : — 





Cantons. 



Oommane*. 



Population In 1831. 



1. Montpellier 



2. B^r.icrs . . . 



3. Lodtre . 



4. St..Pons . . . 



14 



12 



9 



t 



113 

 OS 

 72 

 44 



14S,0I9 



134,009 



JG.TOO 



49,333 



Total 



S« 



lit 



SS9,a8C 



1. Of the first arrondissemcnt, and of the whole department, Moyr- 

 PKI.UEB is the capital. Aniane, a pretty little town, IG miles N.W. 

 from Montpellier, is situated in a rich plain on the left bank of the 

 Hdrault, and has 2542 inhabitants, who manufacture cream of tartar, 

 verdigris, black soap, chemical products, cotton-yarn, leather, and 

 lime. This town owes its origin to the abbey built by St. Benoit 

 d' Aniane, who died here A.D. 821 : the abbey (now the parish) church 

 is an elegant structure ; the abbey buildings are turned into a cotton- 

 factory. Cette. Frontignan, a small town with 2000 inhabitants, 

 situated on the shore-lake of Maguelonne, and pn the Montpellier- 

 Cette railroad, is famous for the excellent muscadel wines and raisins 

 produced in its neighbourhood. Near Frontignan is Bcdaruc, famous 

 for its warm springs, which have enjoyed a long celebrity for the cure 

 of paralytic and scrofulous affections. The bathing establishments, 

 furnished hotels for the accommodation of visitors, and a general 

 hospital for poor patients, forming a pretty village, stand on the 

 northern shore of the lagune of Thau. There are two seasons, May 

 and June, September and October. Ganget, 25 miles N. from Mont- 

 pellier, is prettily situated in a fertile plain closed in by high hills, and 

 on the left bank of the H^rault. It is surrounded by pretty country 

 houses, and commanded by an old castle. The population amounts 

 to 4564, who manufacture silk- and cotton-yarn, silk stockings, silk 

 gloves, and leather. Near the town there is a very extensive gi-otto, 

 which is said to surpo^ in beauty the famous grotto of Autiparos. A 

 good deal of raw silk is produced in the canton of Ganges. Lund-la- 

 ViUe, 14 miles E. from Montpellier, and on the railroad from that city 

 to Ntmes, stands near the right bank of the Vidourle, iu a district 

 famous for its sweet wines, and has 6385 inhabitants. The most 

 attractive objects in the town are the barracks, a fountain in form of 

 on obelisk, and the public promenade. It has communication by the 

 Lunel Canal, which terminates in the shore-lake of Maiiguio, with the 

 Khdne, the Meditcn-anean, and the Canal-du-Midi. There are several 

 brandy, spirit, and liqueur distilleries ; and the trade in com, flour, 

 wool, wine, raisins, manufactured goods, and colonial produce is con- 

 siderable. SfastiUargua, or Martillargua, 16 miles E.N.E. from 

 Montpellier, on the Vidourle, is situated in a very fertile tlistrict : it 

 has a fine old castle, and 3529 inhabitants. Sl.-Martin-dc-Londra, 17 

 miles N.N.W. from Montpellier, is a small place of only 1100 inhabit- 

 ants, but interesting for the remains of its fuudnl fortifications, and 

 for the view from it of the old castle of La-Koquettc, which stauds on 

 an eminence near the Pic-St-Loup, a volcanic mountain nearly 2000 

 feet high. Silk hosieiy and charcoal are manufactured here. Mauffuio, 

 7 miles from Montpellier, stands on the shore-lake of Mauguio, has 

 some brandy distilleries and 2131 inhabitants. In the middle of the 

 town there is a bill surmotmted by a windmill, from which Aigues- 

 Mortes and Cette, on the coast of the Mediterranean, and to the north- 

 ward the Cdvcnnes are visible. Mht, 19 miles S. from Montpellier, 

 stands in a productive vine district ou the shore-lake of Thau, where 

 it has a good harbour for small craft It is a pretty town with 4348 

 inhabitants, who manufacture liqueurs, brandy, and salt, and trade in 

 these articles and in wine, com, &o. The ancient abbey of Vallemagne 

 (the beautiful gothic church nud cloisters of which, erected in the 13th 

 century, arc xtill entire) stands near Mdze, and forms one of the finest 

 stractures of the kind iu France. 



2. In the second arrondissemcnt the chief town, Blziert, stands on 

 a hill above the Orb and the Canal-du-Midi, iu 43° 20' 81" N. lat 



