page_title: Palavas-les-Flots
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Palavas-les-Flots / History
context_page_description: Palavas-les-Flots is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
context_section_description: The village originated as a fishermen's village who sold their catch on the markets of Montpellier. The Ancien Régime used the village as a coastal defence, building the Redoute de Ballestras.
  From the beginning of the 19th century, local tourists and seasonal activities were drawn to the village. When in 1872 a local train to and from Montpellier started service, seaside tourism really took off. This train operated until 1968 and was painted by Albert Dubout.
caption: The historical train from Montpellier to Palavas, now exhibited in Montpellier
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