Gigean (French pronunciation: [ʒiʒɑ̃]; Occitan: Gijan) is a commune in the Hérault département in Occitanie in southern France.

Gigean
Abbey St Félix de Montceau.
Abbey St Félix de Montceau.
Coat of arms of Gigean
Location of Gigean
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Gigean is located in France
Gigean
Gigean
Gigean is located in Occitanie
Gigean
Gigean
Coordinates: 43°30′01″N 3°42′42″E / 43.5003°N 3.7117°E / 43.5003; 3.7117
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentHérault
ArrondissementMontpellier
CantonFrontignan
IntercommunalityCA Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Marcel Stoecklin[1]
Area
1
16.56 km2 (6.39 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
6,565
 • Density400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
34113 /34770
Elevation10–232 m (33–761 ft)
(avg. 44 m or 144 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
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Geography

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Gigean is bordered by the Étang de Thau to its west, the Gardiole hills to its south and by a wine growing plain, which runs from the Moure Hills to the edge of Montpellier.

Gigean is 18 km (11 mi) from Montpellier and 14 km (8.7 mi) from Sète.

The A9 autoroute exchange is 2 km (1.2 mi) south, which runs to the A75 33 km (21 mi) away at Clermont-l'Hérault.

The climate is Mediterranean: warm and dry in the summer, mild in the winter. Autumn is often marked by rain and heavy wind.

Neighboring communes

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Poussan, Montbazin, Cournonsec, Fabrègues, Vic-la-Gardiole, Frontignan and Balaruc-le-Vieux.

Population

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Its inhabitants are called Gigeannais

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 1,847—    
1975 2,135+2.09%
1982 2,021−0.78%
1990 2,529+2.84%
1999 3,552+3.85%
2007 5,186+4.84%
2012 5,957+2.81%
2017 6,426+1.53%
Source: INSEE[3]

Sights

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  • Saint Félix-de-Montceau: 13th century abbey, a listed monument historique since 1925, now in ruins,[4] situated on the Gardiole hills.
  • Église Saint Genis: 13th century church.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  4. ^ Base Mérimée: Ancienne abbaye Saint-Félix-de-Montceau, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
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