Bages, Aude


Bages is a commune in the Aude department in the Occitanie region of southern France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Bageois or Bageoises.

Geography

Bages is located in the urban area of Narbonne on the Canal de la Robine and the Étang de Bages-Sigean some 6 km south-west of Narbonne and 9 km north of Portel-des-Corbières. Access to the commune is by the D6009 road from Narbonne which passes through the centre of the commune and continues south to Salses-le-Château. Access to the village in the east of the commune is by road D105 which branches from the D6009 just north of the commune and goes to the village before continuing south to Peyriac-de-Mer. The A9 autoroute passes through the commune from north to south but has no exit in the commune. The nearest exit is Exit some 4 km north of the commune which links to the D6009. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Les Pesquis, Domaine de Java, and Prat de Cest.
The Étang de Bages-Sigean forms the entire eastern border of the commune with numerous streams flowing from the commune into it such as the Ruisseau Mairal, the Ruisseau de Boutoubouli, and the Ruisseau des Potences. A smaller Lake - the Étang de Saint-Paul - is on the southern border of the commune linked to the much larger Étang de Bages-Sigean with a dam forming the border of the commune.

Neighbouring communes and villageshttp://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil?c=2.9917,43.1242&z=7.92265E-5&l=GEOGRAPHICALGRIDSYSTEMS.MAPS.3D$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS@aggregate(1)&l=ADMINISTRATIVEUNITS.BOUNDARIES$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS(1)&permalink=yes Géoportail, IGN">Institut géographique national">IGN

History

The origins of the site of the present commune date back to prehistoric times. According to historians tools found in Bages attest the presence of man from the Lower Paleolithic. Undoubtedly Neanderthal then Cro-Magnon men stayed on the shores of the Narbonne Gulf. The discovery of Neolithic sites proves the existence of significant human communities at that time.
It was under Roman occupation that a real settlement emerged. Many plots of land were distributed to senior army veterans and there were numerous luxurious villae. The origin of the current name is thought to have come from this period: BAÏA or BAÏES in Latin meaning "place of pleasure". Few traces remain of this period and they are often covered by vegetation. The most important are those of "Castellas" and "Monadières" - important Villae from the beginning of that era.
The population of the time left the flat areas to shelter from the wind by moving to the rocky outcrop seen today. This was a slightly dominant defensive position but also the climate and exposure allowed them to live without encroaching on arable land. The Cadran Solaire marks the entrance of the old village. A corner of the Lake can be seen from the narrow and steep streets.
The village of Bages is on the edge of the lake although agriculture, especially the vineyards, forms the core of its economy. Bages village is mostly considered as a fishing village.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors
FromToNamePartyPosition
18701877Louis Daude
18771878Guilhaume Alberny
18781888Louis Daude
18881891Jean Daude
18911892Auguste Gayraud
18921944Gabriel Cros-Mayrevieille
19441945Joseph Martin
19451977Louis Alberny
19771983René Chevrier
19831995Georges Arcis
19952008Claude Mulero
20082020Marie Bat

Demography

In 2010 the commune had 840 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known from the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1793. From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger communes that have a sample survey every year.

Economy

Art is prominent in the commune with Painters, sculptors, visual artists, musicians, storytellers, and cabinet makers drawing inspiration. There are two permanent Art galleries: La Maison des Arts and L'Etang Art which also has publishing activity through Les Temps d'Art Graphique.
The commune is in the zone of the Vin de pays des Coteaux du Littoral Audois
In the fishing village the main produce is eel which is prepared in bouillabaisse style.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The Church contains several items that are registered as historical objects: