Assas (French pronunciation: [asas] ; Occitan: Assaç or Assats, [aˈsas]) is a town and commune in the Hérault department, region of Occitania, southern France.

Assas
Saint-Martial church
Saint-Martial church
Coat of arms of Assas
Location of Assas
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Assas is located in France
Assas
Assas
Assas is located in Occitanie
Assas
Assas
Coordinates: 43°42′10″N 3°54′00″E / 43.7028°N 3.9°E / 43.7028; 3.9
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentHérault
ArrondissementLodève
CantonSaint-Gély-du-Fesc
IntercommunalityCC Grand Pic Saint-Loup
Government
 • Mayor (2022–2026) Benoit Amphoux[1]
Area
1
19.11 km2 (7.38 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,455
 • Density76/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
34014 /34820
Elevation59–164 m (194–538 ft)
(avg. 85 m or 279 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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Located just north of Montpellier, Assas lies near Saint-Vincent de Barbeyrargues, Guzargues, Clapiers, Jacou, Castries and Teyran. The region near Assas is primarily scrubland, but it is watered by a number of streams and brooks and has a small wooded area that produces mushrooms in the fall.

The village of Assas is organized around the Château d'Assas, located on a hill overlooking the small but quaint old village.

 
Map

Population

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The inhabitants are called Assadins in French.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962352—    
1968352+0.0%
1975506+43.8%
1982815+61.1%
1990992+21.7%
19991,305+31.6%
20081,527+17.0%
20151,499−1.8%

Viticulture

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The region containing Assas is a productive wine-making area, and has the appellation Grès de Montpellier. This is part of the AOC Coteaux du Languedoc designation.

Sights

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  • Château d'Assas, an 18th-century folie montpellierraine, designed by the architect Jean-Antoine Giral (1700–1787), was built in 1759/1760 on the ruins of a feudal castle. It is a private residence, but can be toured either by appointment or on national holidays. A historic 18th century harpsichord is preserved in the Château, a favoured instrument of harpsichordist Scott Ross (1951–1989), who died in Assas. At the beginning of the 1920s, Sir Patrick Geddes (born Ballater, Scotland 2 October 1854, died Montpellier, France 17 April 1932), the Scottish botanist, bought the Château d'Assas to set up a centre for urban studies, as an extension of the Collège des Ecossais which he founded in Montpellier in 1890.
    The château was used as a set in the filming of La Belle Noiseuse, a film by Jacques Rivette (1991).
  • A church of the 11th or 12th century, completely restored at the beginning of the 21st century.
  • Remains of the 10th or 11th century fortifications.
  • Old village.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
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