Maraussan is a commune in Hérault, in the Occitanie region, north-west of Béziers, which it borders on.
Its territory of 12 km² is watered by the course of the Orb, a coastal river descending from the Aveyron to flow into the Mediterranean at Valras-Plage, and by its tributaries, the Lirou and the Merdanson.
Presenting a plain landscape dotted with a few hills, the site of Maraussan has been occupied by man since Roman Antiquity, but the village was actually created in the 13th century when the Bishop of Béziers had a church erected. The following century, King Charles V, owner of the land, ceded them to Jean Perdiguier, general treasurer of Languedoc, who built instead of a bastide a real castle.
However, the village remained modest until the 17th century: the development of agriculture and especially viticulture was notable there.
Then in the 19th century, when a number of lands liberated after the Revolution were then covered with vines, Maraussan really became famous for its wines, in particular muscat.
In 1901, 128 wine growers out of the 280 in the municipality came together to found the first wine cooperative in France, "Les Vignerons Libres", and were thus able to sell their production by avoiding traders. A common cellar was erected in 1905 which Jean Jaurès would come to greet.
Today, the vocation of wine continues. It lends itself to wine tourism, as the heritage and environment of Maraussan (about 4300 inhabitants) are also interesting. A detour is essential during a stopover in Béziers...
In terms of heritage, it is the castle of Perdiguier which remains the jewel of the village. Protected as a historical monument, erected in the 14th century, altered and enlarged in the 17th and 18th centuries, it is in the form of a quadrilateral around a central courtyard. The buildings are joined by cords on the upper floors and the north wing has retained its medieval appearance (backing onto a slope and equipped with six large round towers). There are mullioned windows and arched windows in the attic. The southern wing, lower and narrow, is made of an arcaded gallery.
The castle is now at the center of a wine estate. You can taste your wines there in the cellar and the gardens are open to visitors. The site also hosts receptions, exhibitions and even concerts in summer. Information on +33 4 67 90 37 44.
In the village, to see next, the Church of the Holy Trinity built by the Bishop of Béziers at the beginning of the 13th century in a Gothic style. Remodeled since, it has a nave with four bays enlarged in the 19th century, but the 15th century transverse arches have been preserved. The building houses a painting representing Christ from the 17th century and three paintings from the 19th century.
The Notre-Dame de la Providence chapel (19th century), the consular house still visible on the main square (17th century) or even bourgeois residences of wine-growing estate owners (18th, 19th) and more modest workers' houses Winegrowers from the same period still mark out a stroll in the village and its surroundings.
The Tabarka bridge (19th century), a metal construction reminiscent of Eiffel, which spans the Orb and the water tower (former reservoir collecting spring water connected to a fountain-washhouse via an underground gallery still in use) are also to be observed. Finally, now listed in the Inventory because "symbolic of the wine cooperative movement of the early twentieth century" and "characteristic of an architecture that marks the landscape of Languedoc", the old cellar of Vignerons Livres, dating from 1905, is at see. It now houses the tourist office of the city (contact on +33 4 67 21 58 44) and the offices of the cooperative which succeeded it, with an inter-municipal vocation, "the Vignerons du pays d'Ensérune" (information on +33 4 67 90 09 80).
On the cultural level, activities (meetings, readings) are regularly offered at the media library. For more information, call +33 4 67 98 41 29.
For fishing enthusiasts, the Orb is a quality exercise ground. Contact the local association on +33 6 98 88 78 08.
And for a game of tennis, book a court with the Maraussan club on +33 4 67 90 07 14 or +33 6 81 56 07 42.
Finally, many hiking possibilities are offered, including tasting breaks, or along the vineyards to the banks of the Orb. Maps and information on +33 4 67 21 58 44 or +33 4 99 41 36 36. Near the Orb, it should also be noted that the Tabarka sports course has been set up, in a wooded setting with a picnic area (limited to de Béziers). Free access every day.
The first weekend of July, town festival with garage sale, pétanque competition and on Saturday evening, meal, concert then fireworks.
A State of Mind - hip-hop
- On 1 june 2024
- Place Marcel Barrère
- A State Of Mind (ASM) is a British hip-hop collective made up of MCs Green and FP and DJ/producer Rhino. Hailing from Canada, Germany and England, their influences range from funk to hip-hop and reggae. - With 3 critically acclaimed albums and over 60 concerts in 25 different countries to their credit, ASM has established itself as one of the pre-eminent hip-hop acts in Europe today. - Their unique brand of sophisticated, expressive boom-bap fusion continues to serve as a refreshing reminder that hip-hop can be fun, artistically ambitious and intelligent ! - Concert at 9pm - Place Marcel Barrère - Maraussan - All audiences - Duration : 1h30 - Free - As part of the Festival des Arts Urbains de Maraussan (FAUM) + info on the rest of the day : 04 67 90 37 10
Cinevillage Maraussan: la Syndicaliste
- On 14 june 2024
- Place Marcel Barrère
- One morning, Maureen Kearney was violently attacked in her home. She was working on a sensitive case in the French nuclear sector, and was under violent political pressure. The investigators find no trace of the assailants ? Is she a victim or guilty of false denunciation ? - A breathtaking thriller about a state scandal.
