Bagnols-sur-Cèze

Bagnols-sur-Cèze Banhòus de Céser(Occitan)
Commune
The main square in Bagnols-sur-Cèze
Coat of arms
Location of Bagnols-sur-Cèze
Bagnols-sur-Cèze Bagnols-sur-Cèze
Coordinates:44°09′44″N4°37′09″E
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Gard
Arrondissement	Nîmes
Canton	Bagnols-sur-Cèze
Intercommunality	CA Gard Rhodanien
Government
• Mayor(2020–2026)	Jean-Yves Chapelet
Area 1	31.37 km2(12.11 sq mi)
Population (2021)	18,248
• Density	580/km2(1,500/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00(CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	30028/30200
Elevation	30–268 m (98–879 ft) (avg. 47 m or 154 ft)
1French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2(0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Bagnols-sur-Cèze(French pronunciation:[baɲɔlsyʁsɛz],lit."Bagnols-on-Cèze";Occitan:Banhòus de Céser) is acommunein theGarddepartmentin theOccitaniaregioninSouthern France.

History

A small regional centre, Bagnols-sur-Cèze was quite certainly a Roman town (the name of the town comes from the Latinbalneariusmeaning "related to baths, bathing-place" ) before the main part was built in the 13th century around a central arcaded square that is still preserved today. At the same period, the regional market was installed here, undoubtedly contributing to its expansion.

Demographics

Bagnols-sur-Ceze expanded steadily after theMarcoule nuclear centrewas established in 1956.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 4,800 — 1800 4,888 +0.26% 1806 4,994 +0.36% 1821 4,921 −0.10% 1831 4,902 −0.04% 1836 4,847 −0.23% 1841 4,090 −3.34% 1846 4,827 +3.37% 1851 4,780 −0.20% 1856 4,870 +0.37% 1861 5,050 +0.73% 1866 5,184 +0.53% 1872 4,876 −1.02% 1876 4,930 +0.28% 1881 4,666 −1.09% 1886 4,458 −0.91% 1891 4,454 −0.02% 1896 4,500 +0.21%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 4,461 −0.17% 1906 4,582 +0.54% 1911 4,445 −0.61% 1921 3,918 −1.25% 1926 4,450 +2.58% 1931 4,481 +0.14% 1936 4,669 +0.83% 1946 5,211 +1.10% 1954 5,546 +0.78% 1962 12,905 +11.13% 1968 16,468 +4.15% 1975 17,534 +0.90% 1982 17,602 +0.06% 1990 17,872 +0.19% 1999 18,103 +0.14% 2009 18,105 +0.00% 2014 18,172 +0.07% 2020 18,072 −0.09%
Source: EHESSand INSEE (1968–2020)

Sights

The old center of Bagnols-sur-Cèze retains its historic feel, with small streets and largely preserved architecture. Several façades are remarkable. The towns contains a notablemuseumofcontemporary art,theMusée Albert-André,founded in 1868 as well as an archaeological museum with a collection of artifacts found mainly in nearby Roman sites.

Theshoegazemusic band namedAlcestis from this city.

There are several murals featuringoptical illusions.

International relations

See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Bagnols-sur-Cèze istwinnedwith:

• Braunfels,Germany, since 1959
• Feltre,Italy, since 1961
• Newbury,England, since 1971
• Eeklo,Belgium, since 1976
• Carcaixent,Spain, since 1982
• Kiskunfélegyháza,Hungary

Notable people

• Gersonides(born 1288), Jewish philosopher, Talmudist, mathematician, physician and astronomer/astrologer
• Albéric Pont(1870-1960), dentist and pioneer in maxillofacial surgery
• Lionel Pérez(born 1967), goalkeeper
• Neige(born 1986),blackgazemusician
• Sandie Toletti(born 1995), footballer forReal Madridand theFrance national team

Albert André, art collector of late 19th century art, who bequeathed his magnificent collection to the town of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, where it resides in the Mairie, as the Musée Albert André

See also

• Communes of the Gard department
• List of works by Auguste Carli

External links

• Official website(in French)
• Bagnols sur Cèze tourist office website
• Overview of Bagnols sur Cèze