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CLERMONT L’HERAULT
Clermont l’Herault is a busy town, found just south of the Larzac, and the center of the local trade in table grapes, and fruit juices. It has one of the only two remaining olive oil refineries in the region.
There is a large market here on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and numerous craft fairs are held here throughout the summer. It is a popular resting place for tourists coming from the North, it being a convenient stop when traveling down the A75 Autoroute, which comes to an end temporarily, in nearby Pezenas.
The center of the town is very lively and has many restaurants, shops and bars.
Lac du SALAGOU
About 5km north of Clermont l'Herault is the Salagou lake. The lake was constructed between 1968 and 1970 to control the flow of the river that previously, had caused severe problems with flooding. It allows for the irrigation of the vines adjacent to the lake and allows leisure activities such as sailing and windsurfing.
The creation of a camping site has also increased the amount of tourism in the area. The lake is used by the fire fighting planes - The Canadairs - to replenish their tanks. They swoop low over the water scooping up water, in their continual fight against summer fires.
The perimeter of the lake is interesting for its rock
formations and what appears to be lava flows. It is possible
to get close to the lake shore at various points. There is a
large beach and car park adjacent to the camp site, and
small yachting marina, on the Clermont side of the lake.
VILLENEUVETTE
"FACTORY ROYALE"
Villeneuvette can be found 3kms west of Clermont.
A fortified town and a community which, for more than two centuries, was one of the most prosperous textile manufacturers in France. The township of "Villeneuvette", was built in 1670 and has changed very little. The village is a listed site with cobbled streets, and homes and shops that revive memories of a bygone era.
The town was hugely successful and the factory employed over 800 workers, 300 of which lived in Villeneuvette. In 1677, the factory became royal property of King Louis XIV (the Sun King). It received financial support from Colbert, the King's Minister, in exchange for very strict guarantees for the quality of the cloth.
With exports of 120 bales of cloth a year, Villeneuvette grew, with 47 homes for the weavers, a dye-works and several shops. Weaving was done at home.
The weaving loom was located at street level and the family lived on the first floor of their homes. Work was assured to those who lived within the village. Manpower also came from neighboring villages. Small, rent free gardens were made available to each family.
There were comprehensive services available, including doctors and firemen. Children started work at the age of twelve after limited schooling. Every evening the gates of the town, over which was carved the inscription "Honneur au Travail", were closed for the night.
As a result of frequent changes of owners and The French Revolution, the factory declined and by the beginning of the 19th century the business was ruined. Until 1810, the textile production had all been by hand, but mechanization dramatically increased production. In 1821 the factory became public property but was no longer famous for fashionable exported materials, and made cloth which was used for military uniforms, religious orders, schools and the decorating of train compartments. The factory closed in 1954, and over recent years has been the subject of intense renovatrion.
At the gate entrance to the village is an "ice house" This was an underground storage for ice that was collected from nearby lakes during the winter and remained frozen until the following winter, allowing the long term storage of food.
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