Like many places in Languedoc-Roussillon, the village of Nizas has been continuously inhabited since prehistoric time. The vicinity of the village is rich in archeological sites, such as proto-anthropomorphic stele of Pla Méjo and la grotte de l'Homme Mort,[3] both from the Chalcolithic period.
The origins of the village of Nizas are certainly Roman, although there are remains from Greekamphoramanufacturing processes in neighbouring villages. There are evidences of Roman foundations from the 1st century AD under the early 18th-century church in the center of the village.
The name Nizas derived from the name of a Latin nobleman Nisius whose domain is buried under the modern village. Nizas is mentioned in the Carolingian texts (884 AD) as a villa.[4] Following the collapse of the Carolingian empire, Occitanian peasantry who, prior to 950 lived mostly at dispersed farms, regrouped around castles of local nobles for protection. Thus, the fortified villages or "castra" in Occitan, appeared between 950 and 1050.[5] "Castro Nizacio" is mentioned in time of crusades (1094–1114). The circulade is well preserved in the historical center of the village called quartier de la Villette.
At the end of the 16th century, the Carrion family acquired the fief from the bishop of Lodève and adopted the name Carrion-Nizas. That was Jean-Raymond de Carrion-Nizas ( d. 1624), master-builder of walls of Pézenas, who built or re-built the current castle.[4] The Carrion-Nizas family remained the lords of the village until the French Revolution. The tomb of the Carrion-Nizas family is still in the church chancel.
Archival materials, such as old maps, postcards and photographs, census of population and parochial records going as far back as the early 17th century may be found on line at Archives départementales de l'Hérault.[6]
PopulationEdit
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1962
502
—
1968
504
+0.4%
1975
391
−22.4%
1982
398
+1.8%
1990
459
+15.3%
1999
525
+14.4%
2008
567
+8.0%
2012
593
+4.6%
The inhabitants of Nizas are called Nizaçois.
SightsEdit
The present village dates from the 10th century with extensive building in the 12th and 13th centuries giving the characteristic shape of a circulade. This is tight spiral configuration with the outer buildings having thick (up to 3 meters in places) stone walls as a defence. Since 2004, the historical district quartier de la Villette has been a pedestrian zone. The information below is largely based on the tourists signs.
Castrum towerEdit
The tower is located in quartier de la Villette, the oldest part of Nizas. This four-sided tower (6.5 x 10 m) with walls 1.70m thick was originally surrounded by an enclosure which served as a farmyard to the old chateau.
Place du GriffeEdit
From the 14th century onwards, the center of the village spread to the west of the original center (quartier de la Villette) around a new square – the Place du Griffe. In this square, in the center of a fountain, there is a statue of Marianne which is more mythological than republican. She is the Greek-Roman goddess Artemis-Diana or Belissena, her counterpart in Celt Iberian cosmos of divinities.[7] She isn't wearing phrygian cap, but a star on her forehead, suggesting the guiding light to lead people from the darkness of ignorance.
ChurchEdit
The cornerstone of the present church was consecrated on January 13, 1705 on the site of the former chapel of Saints Perpetue and Felicity which was demolished in 1703. The construction work was completed by August 1708. Saint Perpetue relics are still objects of veneration.[8] The church is open for worship and visits only during the time of service.
Approaching village of Nizas
Old wine press converted to flowerbed
Picturesque view from a nearby hill at sunset
Village square, La place du Griffe
La place du Griffe at night - Cet endroit est brumeux et mystérieux
Castle of Carrion-Nizas, who remained the local lords from the late 16th century until the revolution. The castle is closed to public.
Old part of the village (quartier de la Villette).
Facade of the village church.
Coquelicot ("Red poppy" in French)
La garrigue ("garriga" in Occitan) - Mediterranean scrubland, Spring time
^Jean Grimal. Le village chalcolithique du "Pla Mejo" Commune de Nizas (Hérault), Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, 1966, n° 5, pp. 181-188.
^ ab. Archived from the original on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
^Les Cathares by de Brenon and Roux. Pouvoir et Societe en Francie occidentale en l'an Mil, p.25 ISBN2-911515-28-5
^Rahn, Otto (2006). Crusade against the Grail: The Struggle between the Cathars, the Templars, and the Church of Rome. Rochester, Vt: Inner Traditions. p. 105. ISBN1-59477-135-9.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nizas (Hérault).
Official website
August 27, 2023
nizas, hérault, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, june, 2007,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Nizas Herault news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Nizas French pronunciation nizas Occitan Nisac is a commune in the Herault department in the Occitanie region in southern France NizasCommuneA general view of NizasCoat of armsLocation of NizasNizasShow map of FranceNizasShow map of OccitanieCoordinates 43 30 50 N 3 24 30 E 43 5139 N 3 4083 E 43 5139 3 4083CountryFranceRegionOccitaniaDepartmentHeraultArrondissementBeziersCantonMezeIntercommunalityCA Herault MediterraneeGovernment Mayor 2020 2026 Daniel Renaud 1 Area18 53 km2 3 29 sq mi Population Jan 2020 2 669 Density78 km2 200 sq mi Time zoneUTC 01 00 CET Summer DST UTC 02 00 CEST INSEE Postal code34184 34320Elevation19 131 m 62 430 ft avg 72 m or 236 ft 1 French Land Register data which excludes lakes ponds glaciers gt 1 km2 0 386 sq mi or 247 acres and river estuaries It lies near the town Pezenas Contents 1 History 2 Population 3 Sights 3 1 Castrum tower 3 2 Place du Griffe 3 3 Church 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditLike many places in Languedoc Roussillon the village of Nizas has been continuously inhabited since prehistoric time The vicinity of the village is rich in archeological sites such as proto anthropomorphic stele of Pla Mejo and la grotte de l Homme Mort 3 both from the Chalcolithic period The origins of the village of Nizas are certainly Roman although there are remains from Greek amphora manufacturing processes in neighbouring villages There are evidences of Roman foundations from the 1st century AD under the early 18th century church in the center of the village The name Nizas derived from the name of a Latin nobleman Nisius whose domain is buried under the modern village Nizas is mentioned in the Carolingian texts 884 AD as a villa 4 Following the collapse of the Carolingian empire Occitanian peasantry who prior to 950 lived mostly at dispersed farms regrouped around castles of local nobles for protection Thus the fortified villages or castra in Occitan appeared between 950 and 1050 5 Castro Nizacio is mentioned in time of crusades 1094 1114 The circulade is well preserved in the historical center of the village called quartier de la Villette At the end of the 16th century the Carrion family acquired the fief from the bishop of Lodeve and adopted the name Carrion Nizas That was Jean Raymond de Carrion Nizas d 1624 master builder of walls of Pezenas who built or re built the current castle 4 The Carrion Nizas family remained the lords of the village until the French Revolution The tomb of the Carrion Nizas family is still in the church chancel Archival materials such as old maps postcards and photographs census of population and parochial records going as far back as the early 17th century may be found on line at Archives departementales de l Herault 6 Population EditHistorical populationYearPop 1962502 1968504 0 4 1975391 22 4 1982398 1 8 1990459 15 3 1999525 14 4 2008567 8 0 2012593 4 6 The inhabitants of Nizas are called Nizacois Sights EditThe present village dates from the 10th century with extensive building in the 12th and 13th centuries giving the characteristic shape of a circulade This is tight spiral configuration with the outer buildings having thick up to 3 meters in places stone walls as a defence Since 2004 the historical district quartier de la Villette has been a pedestrian zone The information below is largely based on the tourists signs Castrum tower Edit The tower is located in quartier de la Villette the oldest part of Nizas This four sided tower 6 5 x 10 m with walls 1 70m thick was originally surrounded by an enclosure which served as a farmyard to the old chateau Place du Griffe Edit From the 14th century onwards the center of the village spread to the west of the original center quartier de la Villette around a new square the Place du Griffe In this square in the center of a fountain there is a statue of Marianne which is more mythological than republican She is the Greek Roman goddess Artemis Diana or Belissena her counterpart in Celt Iberian cosmos of divinities 7 She isn t wearing phrygian cap but a star on her forehead suggesting the guiding light to lead people from the darkness of ignorance Church Edit The cornerstone of the present church was consecrated on January 13 1705 on the site of the former chapel of Saints Perpetue and Felicity which was demolished in 1703 The construction work was completed by August 1708 Saint Perpetue relics are still objects of veneration 8 The church is open for worship and visits only during the time of service Approaching village of Nizas Old wine press converted to flowerbed Picturesque view from a nearby hill at sunset Village square La place du Griffe La place du Griffe at night Cet endroit est brumeux et mysterieux Castle of Carrion Nizas who remained the local lords from the late 16th century until the revolution The castle is closed to public Old part of the village quartier de la Villette Facade of the village church Coquelicot Red poppy in French La garrigue garriga in Occitan Mediterranean scrubland Spring time Hills of Herault Spring time SheepSee also EditCommunes of the Herault departmentReferences Edit Repertoire national des elus les maires in French data gouv fr Plateforme ouverte des donnees publiques francaises 13 September 2022 Populations legales 2020 The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 29 December 2022 Jean Grimal Le village chalcolithique du Pla Mejo Commune de Nizas Herault Bulletin de la Societe prehistorique francaise 1966 n 5 pp 181 188 a b Nizas La patine du temps by Guilhem Beugnon Archived from the original on 5 March 2009 Retrieved 28 July 2008 Les Cathares by de Brenon and Roux Pouvoir et Societe en Francie occidentale en l an Mil p 25 ISBN 2 911515 28 5 Archives departementales de l Herault Rahn Otto 2006 Crusade against the Grail The Struggle between the Cathars the Templars and the Church of Rome Rochester Vt Inner Traditions p 105 ISBN 1 59477 135 9 1 dead link External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nizas Herault Official website https web archive org web 20081121213906 http www agglo heraultmediterranee net Sites communes nizas index php https web archive org web 20090305200737 http www agglo heraultmediterranee net Sites communes nizas presentation php Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nizas Herault amp oldid 1168431692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
