# Mèze

Mèze (French pronunciation:; Occitan: Mesa; Phoenician: Mansa) is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.
Its inhabitants are called Mézois.

## Geography

Situated on the étang de Thau, Mèze shares with Bouzigues its historic role as the oyster capital of the area. Almost a third of its inhabitants depend on the fishing industry for their livelihood. In recent years, tourism and transport have become increasingly central to the local economy.

## History

An important port since Phoenician times, Mèze has always primarily been a fishing town. During the Roman Empire, the town lay on the main Southern route from Italy to Spain - the 'Via Domitia'. The Romans brought wine to the area and left a legacy of architecture including two of the town's churches. The production of shellfish, especially oysters, has been the mainstay of the Mèze economy for almost a century and the whole Bassin de Thau area has built an international reputation for the quality of its seafood.

## Administration

| Term | Mayor of Mèze | Party |
| 1807–1815 | Michel Privat | |
| 1815–1817 | Charles de Borie | |
| 1817–1820 | Pierre Ronzier | |
| 1820–1828 | Louis Charamaule | |
| 1828–1840 | François Bouliech | |
| 1840–1848 | de Borie | |
| 1848-1848 | Santy |
| 1848–1849 | Hippolyte Bouliech |
| 1849-1849 | Frédéric de Girard |
| 1849–1850 | Jules Molinier |
| 1850–1851 | François Besse |
| 1851-1851 | Sylla Lacroix |
| 1851–1859 | Constantin Bouliech |
| 1859–1865 | Adrien Lonjon |
| 1865–1870 | Gustave Privat |
| 1870–1874 | Antonin Bouliech |
| 1874–1876 | Emile Molinier |
| 1876-1876 | Jean-Baptiste Allègre |
| 1876–1878 | Jean-François Besse |
| 1878-1878 | Benjamin Durand |
| 1878–1880 | Jean-Baptiste Allègre |
| 1880–1882 | Emile Beaumadier |
| 1882–1885 | Jean-Baptiste Allègre |
| 1885-1885 | Vincent Germain |
| 1885–1887 | Jean-Baptiste Allègre |
| 1887–1892 | Guillaume Gros |
| 1892–1901 | Paulin Arnaud |
| 1901–1904 | Paul Enteric |
| 1904–1912 | Baptiste Guitard |
| 1912–1921 | Paul Enteric |
| 1921–1922 | Louis Brun |
| 1922–1923 | Camille Fraisse, Charles Poujol, François Vailhe | délégation spéciale |
| 1923–1925 | Julien Granal |
| 1925–1941 | Méril Poujade |
| 1941–1944 | Thomas Bessiere | délégation spéciale |
| 1944–1947 | Henri Bessède |
| 1947–1971 | André Montet | |
| 1971–1977 | Georges Jean | |
| 1977–2001 | Yves Pietrasanta | Greens |
| 2001-2001 | Yvon Pibre | |
| 2001-2021 | Henry Fricou | Greens/Europe Écologie–The Greens |
| 2021-2026 | Thierry Baëza | Génération écologie |

## Sights

* Old village center
* Port Mèze: both a working fishing harbor and a port for recreational boating.
* Lagunage ecological site
* Dinosaur Plain' palenthology museum.
* Eglise Saint Hilaire
* La Chapelle des Pénitents (12th century)
* Le château de Girard (end of 17th century)
* Remains of city walls
* St-Jean-de-la-Garrigue, former parish church, built in romanesque style.

## Personalities

* The French Arabist and historian André Miquel was born in Mèze.
* Singer Pierre Vassiliu lived for many years in Mèze.
* Singer Christian Delagrange lives in Mèze.

## Festivals

* Music Festival de Thau (annual),
* A festival of traditional Boat Jousting is held each summer.

## Traditions

* The legendary bœuf de Mèze has become the animal symbol of the town.
* The Balle au tambourin ball game.