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Click to visit town,
village or monument ::
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| Population :: |
782 |
Village
festival :: |
The weekend of July 14 |
| Town hall :: |
04 66 22 17 95 |
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After crossing an ocean of garrigue, making a steep descent
among savage lands towards the gorges of the Gardon and the
robustly majestic Bridge of Saint Nicolas, the visitor heading
from Nîmes to Uzès will reach a landscape that stretches
out towards the ducal towers, which are visible far in the distance.
If he looks towards the left, he will see a small village that nestles
on top of a hill, and whose silhouette stands out against the azure
sky. That is Blauzac, a village with many architectural treasures to
discover: its church's bell tower, the ruins of its old castle, and
its impressive medieval buildings.
Blauzac is a special place, with the architecture of its old town, its shops,
the constant activity created by its associations, its renovated town buildings,
and its young, enterprising population.
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| shops |
1 grocery store, 1 bakery, 1 hairdresser, 1 café-restaurant-tobacco
shop-newsstand, 1 café. |
| heritage |
Church, castle, stone buildings from the Middle Ages.
The trail of capitelles (circular stone constructions) in the Massif de la Librote
Drystone constructions |
| history |
Blauzac overlooks the gorges of the Gardon, which have
been a transportation route and a dwelling place since prehistoric times.
Ceramic artefacts prove the existence of a prehistoric settlement here.
The presence of a Celtic oppidum is evidence of more recent human habitation.
In 1147, the name of the village of Blaudacum appears in regard to the second
crusade, and then the "castrum" of Blauzach is mentioned in 1156. Members
of the Brotherhood of the Saint-Esprit established themselves in Blauzac between
1225 et 1250 to construct the Bridge of Saint Nicolas, which is still in use
today.
In 1353, the seigneury of Blauzac was inherited by Pierre de Deaux. Bertrand
de Deaux became cardinal and papal legate of Pope John XXII.
In 1569, the Protestant leader Jean de Saint-Chamand took control of Blauzac.
After having produced two prelates to the Catholic church, Blauzac began turning
out passionate defenders of the reformed church: Raoul and Jacques Guérin,
famous Camisards, as well as Ravanel, born in Malaïgue, who became lieutenant
to Jean Cavalier, the sworn enemy of the royal dragoons.
From 1300 to 1789, the consuls of Blauzac presented countless petitions to the
king concerning an exemption from taxes dating from 1362. This exemption had
been granted to the town to compensate it for the 250 gold ducats it had provided
to pay for the ransom of King Jean II.
Blauzac later became an agricultural community whose population reached nearly
900 inhabitants in 1846, only to fall into decline for over a century.
This trend has clearly reversed in the last few years. |
local
products |
Wine, melons, asparagus, grains (wheat, sunflower), olives |
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Between Ceze and Ardeche rivers
Cevennes foothills
Tave river valley
In the Cotes du Rhone
Around Uzes
Near the Pont du Gard
Across the bridge from Avignon
