History and heritage

Bagnols-sur-Cèze is a town located in the Occitanie region. It is located in the north-east of the Gard department, at a crossroads between Cévennes and Provence, close to Avignon, Nîmes, Montélimar, Montpellier. Capital of the Rhone Gard, it now has 18 inhabitants, its climate is Mediterranean, it is good to live there with its old historic center, its pedestrian streets, its heritage, its culture and its emblematic river.

Local dynamism is partly due to the numerous public facilities: swimming pool, media library, game library, cultural center, music and dance conservatory, stadiums and sports complexes, Maison Des Associations, cinema, medico-social center, retirement homes, health centers. care, Hospital Center, educational establishments: more than 6000 students, 5 nursery schools, 4 elementary schools, 4 middle schools and 2 high schools, as well as early childhood care structures, a leisure center, etc. It is also the result of a dynamic economic life and a dense associative fabric (more than 300 associations).

Discover the institutional film of the town of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, third town in Gard and capital of Rhone Gard.

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A glimpse into History

The name of the city comes from small baths (balneolae) ancient, perhaps established in the Ancise district, to the west of the town but of which no vestige has been found.

In the 1th century, the XNUMX^re Parish church was built near the Grande Fontaine, a very abundant source which allowed the founding of the city. From the 1223th century, municipal charters ensured a certain independence of the consuls vis-à-vis the lords of Bagnols (des Ursins, Beaufort, Montmorency, Conti, etc.). The establishment of a weekly market in XNUMX brought economic prosperity and established Bagnols as a place of trade.

In 1632, the revolt of the Duke of Montmorency caused the destruction of the seigneurial castle and fortifications on the order of Louis XIII. At this time, the education of silkworms and the establishment of spinning mills enriched the city. Many private mansions are built near the market square (Place Auguste-Mallet) whose aesthetic is known in the region. In 1753, Antoine Rivarol was born, a brilliant mind and polemicist, known for his Speech on the universality of the French language. Before the Revolution, the Hôtel-Dieu and the Conti college were built. On April 18, 1785, the Globe of Bagnols, a balloon inflated with hot air, took off, shortly after that of the Montgolfiers.

In the 1843th century, the city expanded beyond its ramparts. Several town planning operations (creation of Mont-Cotton in 1874, construction of Boulevard Lacombe in 1891, street alignment) and water supply improved circulation and cleaned up the city. Gradually, viticulture and market gardening intensified, favored by the establishment of the railway station. The name Bagnols-sur-Cèze was adopted in XNUMX.

After the two world wars, the installation of the Marcoule Nuclear Center in the 1950s marked a major turning point in the history of the city. The population has tripled in ten years, requiring the construction of numerous facilities (school, cultural, sports establishments) and housing (Citadelle, Escanaux, Bordelet districts, etc.). Bagnols-sur-Cèze becomes the 3^e city of Gard and the capital of Rhone Gard.

The famous men of the city

Lévi Ben Gerson (1288-1344): philosopher and scholar of the Middle Ages, elite of the Jewish nation, he had his treatise on astronomy translated for Pope Clement VI. He is the inventor of the “Baculus Jacob” (astronomical instrument) used to measure and observe the position of stars and eclipses.
Jean-Baptiste Madier (1740-1824): A chemist passionate about scientific progress, he built a hot air balloon and repeated the feat of Pilâtre de Rozier in 1785.
Antoine Rivarol (1753-1801): Writer and philosopher known for his “Discourse on the universality of the French language”, he is a formidable polemicist, violently opposed to the French Revolution.
Joseph-Dominique Magalon (1794-1867): He was imprisoned in Paris for the exercise of his literary talents on religious and political questions. Back in Bagnols, he encouraged the printing press and contributed to the editing of local newspapers.
Louis-Auguste Cotton (1799-1871): Mayor and urban planner above all, he created in particular the park and the green theater of Mont-Cotton which will have a lasting impact on the appearance of the city.
Joseph Thome (1809-1896): Wealthy and famous for having carried out, alongside the prefect Haussmann, the new urban plan of Paris, he is "the providence" of the Bagnolais through his generosity, financing for example the square which bears his name. His wife Eugénie creates a crèche and supports the city's charitable works.
Léon Alègre (1813-1884): Humanist, self-taught, and thirsty for knowledge, he sets out to discover the world. Poet, historian, and archaeologist, he covers his notebooks with sketches and notes. He created the first cantonal museum and the library of Bagnols-sur-Cèze.