Bessèges

Bessèges (French pronunciation: ​[besɛʒ]; Occitan: Besseja) is a commune in the Gard department in France. It is situated on the Cèze river.

Bessèges
Commune
Coat of arms
Location of Bessèges
Bessèges
Bessèges
Coordinates: 44°17′33″N 4°06′05″E
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentGard
ArrondissementAlès
CantonRousson
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Bernard Portales[1]
Area
1
10.32 km2 (3.98 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)[2]
2,835
 • Density270/km2 (710/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
30037 /30160
Elevation146–492 m (479–1,614 ft)
(avg. 170 m or 560 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History
The former railway station

Historically Bessèges was a hamlet of Robiac. Its importance began with the opening of a coalmine in 1809, followed by an iron and steel plant in 1833, and eventually the railway reached it in 1857. The commune was created in 1858 from several neighboring districts.

At its peak in the late 19th century, the population was over 11,000. However, during the 20th century it declined and eventually the mine was abandoned, in 1964, and the steel-works in 1987. Today its economy is based on tourism, and it is home to the Étoile de Bessèges road bicycle race.

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
18562,739—    
18617,055+157.6%
18668,671+22.9%
18728,908+2.7%
187610,668+19.8%
188111,404+6.9%
188610,653−6.6%
18918,673−18.6%
18967,962−8.2%
19019,040+13.5%
19068,219−9.1%
19118,030−2.3%
19216,368−20.7%
YearPop.±%
19267,062+10.9%
19316,357−10.0%
19365,425−14.7%
19465,648+4.1%
19545,823+3.1%
19625,720−1.8%
19685,421−5.2%
19755,255−3.1%
19824,352−17.2%
19903,635−16.5%
19993,137−13.7%
20083,233+3.1%

See also

References
  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bessèges" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 822.
  1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. "Populations légales 2019". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 29 December 2021.


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