Assas, Hérault
Assas is a town and commune in the Hérault department, region of Occitania, southern France.
Geography
Located just north of Montpellier, Assas lies near Saint-Vincent de Barbeyrargues, Guzargues, Clapiers, Jacou, Castries and Teyran. The region near Assas is primarily scrubland, but it is watered by a number of streams and brooks and has a small wooded area that produces mushrooms in the fall.The village of Assas is organized around the Château d'Assas, located on a hill overlooking the small but quaint old village.
Population
The inhabitants are called Assadins in French.Viticulture
The region containing Assas is a productive wine-making area, and has the appellation Grès de Montpellier. This is part of the AOC Coteaux du Languedoc designation.Sights
- Château d'Assas, an 18th-century folie montpellierraine, designed by the architect Jean-Antoine Giral, was built in 1759/1760 on the ruins of a feudal castle. It is a private residence, but can be toured either by appointment or on national holidays. A historic 18th century harpsichord is preserved in the Château, a favoured instrument of harpsichordist Scott Ross, who died in Assas. At the beginning of the 1920s, Sir Patrick Geddes, the Scottish botanist, bought the Château d'Assas to set up a centre for urban studies, as an extension of the Collège des Ecossais which he founded in Montpellier in 1890.
- A church of the 11th or 12th century, completely restored at the beginning of the 21st century.
- Remains of the 10th or 11th century fortifications.
- Old village.