GEOGRAPHIC SITUATION

Cessenon sur orb is a large rural market town situated half-way between the Cévennes mountain range and the Méditerranean sea (Valras-Plage at 30 kms). It is the centre point within the local commune and the villages of Cazedarnes, Causses et Veyran, St Nazaire de Ladarez, Roquebrun, Ceps and Prades-sur-Vernazobre are all within a 9 kms radius.

At 51 metres above sea level Cessenon stands down stream of the river Orb famous for its imposing rapids and international canoeing competitions.

HOW TO FIND US

By road : Take motorway A9 exit BEZIERS OUEST (take to the right, direction St Pons), Maureilhan, Cazouls-les-Béziers and Cessenon-sur-Orb.

By air : Served by Montpellier airport (90 kms distance) And by Beziers airport (35kms distance)

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HISTORY

Cessenon-sur-Orb, snuggled up in side of hill on a buckle of Orb, is one of the most old cities of Languedoc. Formerly capital of a châtellenie of 30000 hectares, Cessenon does not count any more today than 1760 inhabitants for a 3750 hectare surface.

The origin of its name : Celtic or Iberian.
Halfway the first foothills of Cevennes and Mediterranean coast, Cessenon possesses a natural beauty on one hand (the undergrowth and the scrubland mix by giving a multiplicity and a variety of strong essences of pleasant smells such the sweet chestnut tree, the holm oak, the arbousier or the juniper), and a strategic situation on the other hand.
So conquests and occupations succeeded one another and numerous tracks of these different times are visible even today:
- Prehistoric time (dolmen, tumulus, flint)
- Time Wisigothe and Sarrazine (said places " Maurerie, Sarrazy ", fall Moslem, norias, chadouf)
- Time Roman (amphoras, graves, fragment of low funeral relief, villa)
It is however only in the year 973 after the study of our cartulaire that the confirmation of its age is revealed to us.

Garsinde, widow of the count of Toulouse gives her castle to Saint Pons's abbey.
Of Garsinde to his daughter Adelaïde, Aton IV to his wife Cécile de Provence, from Raymond de Trencavel to Hugues de Cessenon, Lords and kings desired our village.
But in the XIIIè century the war does not save Cessenon. Cathars or Albigeois, Heretics occupied Noon of France. The pope Innocent III done to preach then a crusade against them and in 1229 an army driven mercilessly by Simon de Montfort, then by Louis VIII set the crusaders of the North to the Lords of Noon. The feudal period ends by the fastening of Languedoc with the royal domain, the royal period begins.

In 1247, Saint Louis gives the Seigneury of Cessenon to the Seneschal of Carcassonne, Hugues Arcis. For Cessenon begin a fatal period oppressed by baillis, epidemics ( the plague), the bad weather (destruction by the cold of the vineyard and the olive trees).

At the beginning of the XVIè century, one truth dynasty of hereditary feudal lords, Fraissinet de Vessas is born. The village gets up, however the castle taken and resumed in several times undergoes numerous insults. The passage of the soldiers amounts every time to a devastating plague. The biggest mutilations are notably imposed on him in 1582 during the religious wars by the men of the captain Bacon and in 1585 by Henri de Joyeuse.

The villagers, during a visit in Louis's XIII Montpelier, asks the demolition of the castle. It is actual in 1633. Only a massive tower serving as bell tower guards the place of the fortress. Henceforth the feudal lords occupy peacefully their big lordly house in the street "Font Sucrée" (The sweet fountain street).

From 1640 and for one and a half-th century the family of the princes of Cop de Conti enjoy our châtellenie. Having been appointed by Louis XIII, governor of Languedoc, the Count of Provence, brother of Louis XVI, buys this one. The Revolution dispossesses him 5 years later. The providence compensates him: he will become king Louis XVIII

After 4 Revolutions, 2 Empires, the republican system is established in 1875.
1835: Creation of Font Sucrée (SWEET FOUNTAIN)
1866: Favorable opinion for the execution of the railway
1895: The vineyard is destroyed by the phylloxera
1901: Construction of the Town Hall
1907: Agricultural syndicalism, revolt of the wine growers supported by the soldiers of the 17-th R.I.
1930: Inauguration of the Suspended Bridge

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PATRIMONY

THE SARCOPHAGUS Fragment of Roman sarcophagus dating the 1-st century later J.C who represents a funeral banquet found in the tiled floor of the church. One can discover him(it) on the facade of a house, a marketplace.

THE VILLAGE Cessenon called in the acts of Cartulaire Cecenno, Ceceno, Cenceno, Cesseno appears only in the second half of the X-th century.

THE CASTLE Donated in 972, along with several churchs, to the abbey of Saint-Pons of Thomières by Garsinde the widow of the Count Pons of Toulouse, however she reserved the right to inhabit the castle to the Vicountess of Narbonne, Adelaide, and her sons. Nowadays all that remains are the castle keep and parts of the fortified walls.

THE CASTLE KEEP Standing on a rock to the rear of the old defense system, the keep marks the spot of the old fortress square. Thirteen metres high it’s entrance door is of the romanesque style. The clock dates back to the 17th Century. The tower houses three large cast-iron bells named respectively Marie-Rose, Radegonde and Pierre who have for many years signalled both our joy and sorrow with the same three notes ‘Do Si and Lah’

THE CHAPEL OUR LADY OF THE BARTHE or THE CAPELANE Ancient chapel castrale dedicated to Our Lady of the Barthe, it was adjacent to the outer walls of the castle.

THE CHAPEL SAINT-ROCH A compoix ( ancient cadastre) mentions it in 1560. Saint Roch (Montpeller towards 1295 - id v. 1327) will be called against the plague and the contagious diseases and its cult will develop from the XV-th century.

LA CAPELETTE or THE LITTLE CHAPEL The name commonly used for the small concrete building marking the entrance to Cessenon. For many years it was used by the municipal workers but it has recently been renovated and has now been restored to its original religous purpose named after Sainte Anne.

THE CHURCH OF SAINT-PIERRE DE LA SALLE The church was probably built on an old mausoleumon in a Gallo-Roman burial ground around the I st ou II th century. Starting off as a modest chapel in early christian times, it became a more influential and important part of the defence of the town in 1299 when the then king allowed extensive work to be completed as long as the building was to incorporate the town walls, work was completed on this veritable fortress at the beginning of the 14th century and the church was given the title St. Pierre de la salle. Admire the superb romanesque vaulted entrance framing the solid wooden door, note also that the metal used in the lock of the door comes from an old suit of armour, an early example of recycling? Inside the church has many treasures, the stone columns restored around the 17th century come from the Cathedral of St. Pons, the fresques adorning the church walls are of the 15th century, the byzantine throne is classed by the french national heritage ministry, and the beautiful painting of the crucifixion dates back to the 14th century. Today the church is more commonly known as St. Pierre et St. Paul.

LA FONTAINE SUCREE or THE SWEET FOUNTAIN The water here is rich in calcium and therefore not suitable for drinking however this does not stop the locals from refreshing themselves from time to time. Even in times of drought the flow of water remains constant. Its history dates back to 1835 when it was built on the orders of the municipal council.

LA FON DE LA GLEYSE OR FOUNTAIN "DU PLO" Situated just outside the town walls the town boasts another fountain dating back even further as in the local records it is first mentioned in 1555.

THE SUSPENDED BRIDGE and THE BRIDGE OF REALS The first one allows the crossing of Orb and was built in 1931 (carried by 113 metres for a width of 6,80 metre apron). The second builds in 1893, posséde five vaults of 13 metres left bank of Orb and one of 13 metres right bank connected by a metal bow of 50 metres.

TOWN HALL Situated in the Jean Moulin square, construction work finished on the building back in 1903.

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