Known for its industrial activities, the village of Aramon also has a beautiful, extremely well preserved heritage. Eager to know more about its history, I followed the guided tour organized by the Friends of Saint-Pancrace association during the European Heritage Days. Well I got it! Between its 17th century mansions, its picturesque streets, and of course the castle that belonged to Diane de Poitiers, Aramon has a lot to offer. Here are some of its essentials…
The dock
The first thing you discover when you arrive in Aramon is its stone dock, which extends all along the village. It was used at the time to protect Aramon from the floods of the Rhône. Yes, it may be hard to imagine today, but up until the 1970s, the Rhône still arrived at the gates of Aramon !
Following the construction of a dam and the damming of the Rhône, the arm of the river in front of Aramon was dried up. Today, the quay is a pleasant promenade where it is good to stroll. Take the time to stop there to discover vintage photos which cover the flower pots. It's a great way to imagine life in the 19th century.
The birthplace of Henri Pitot (1695-1771)
French hydraulic engineer and inventor of the “Pitot tube”, Henri Pitot was born in Aramon in 1695. Nothing suggested that this young man would become a famous engineer. However, after a residency at the Royal Academy of Sciences in Paris, and an election to the Royal Society of London, Henri Pitot invented the Pitot tube in 1732.. It is still used today by ships and aircraft to measure fluid velocity.
We also owe him the road bridge attached to the famous Pont du Gard and the Saint-Clément aqueduct in Montpellier.
If you look closely at the house, you will see bullet marks on the walls. These are the vestiges of the terrible conflict between Catholics and Protestants from which Aramon suffered at the end of the 16th century.
Private mansions
The village of Aramon is full of magnificent facades and old doors of private mansions, built during the prosperity of its port in the XNUMXth century.
- Forton Hotel : built at the beginning of the 1977th century, it was subsequently purchased by the municipality to house the town hall until XNUMX. To look at: the entrance door, the corbelled turret, and the medieval pitch of the roof with a chimera wooden with crocodile head and fish scales.
- Hotel de Jossaud : with its square door and its very beautiful facade, this private mansion was for two centuries owned by the Jossaud family, old nobility and co-lords of Aramon.
- Laudun Hotel : one of the most beautiful in the village! It belonged to the Laudun family, co-lords of Aramon. Its front door is original with the date 1678, and the baluster balcony.
- Choisity Hotel : superbly preserved, this beautiful 16th century residence subsequently became the property of Jean Sauvan, a wealthy merchant. We can still see his initials above the door, alongside those of his son (AS). Don't miss its architecture on three levels: the ground floor, the noble floor and the attic, where the servants lived.
- Hotel Saint-Jean : located opposite the Choisity Hotel, its facade is badly damaged. Which takes nothing away from its architectural beauty. In the courtyard, there is an exceptional small corner door.
- Posquieres Hotel : this private mansion belonging to the Posquières family is best known thanks to François de Posquières. He created the first Bacchic order in 1703 “The Order of Drink and Strict Observance”. The winegrowers of Costières du Gard take up and perpetuate this order.
Saint-Pancrace Church
In the heart of the historic center of Aramon is the Church of Saint Pankration, named after Pankration, martyred in the 3rd century in Rome.
Provençal Romanesque style, the church was built in several stages. First the choir and a small bell tower, then the main nave and finally, the pointed bell tower on the apse. The facade dates from the 18th century. Notice bull's eye above the main door and the black strip above the side gate.
Aramon Castle
Impossible to write about Aramon without mentioning his castle which dominates the old town. First of defensive use in the 12th century (we can still see some traces of ramparts), the castle also suffered significant damage during the wars of religion and the Revolution.
Its square tower is called “Tower of Diana” in honor of Diane de Poitiers, favorite of Henry II, and lordship of Aramon from 1547 to 1566, who presented him with the castle.
Today, Aramon Castle still belongs to the Marquis d'Aramon, and has done so since 1653.
A stone bridge connects the castle and its 7 hectare Mediterranean park. A real green setting with numerous paths, and a few capitelles in the center.
The garden and the castle can be visited during major events: European Heritage Days, Rendez-vous aux Jardins, etc.
You will have understood, Aramon has a rich heritage which deserves to be discovered. Many works have also been carried out to restore and enhance it. THE explanatory panels in front of each monument, allow you to learn more about these places.
A big thank you to the Friends of Saint-Pancrace, the Friends of the Château d'Aramon and the OCPA for this very pleasant and informative guided tour!
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