Lunas “the green” wins the “Small city with character in France” label

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This is a great victory for the peaceful rural community of Remedy40km northwest of Montpellier: she has just obtained the precious label of “Small town with character in France”. There was no village in Hérault labeled until now and with the commune of Laroqueat the southern gates of Ganges, these are two rural towns which are added to the 200 other Small towns with character in France scattered across the territory.

In Lunas, we do not hide our pride: “It is official since Monday, December 16, 2024, Lunas is now one of some 200 municipalities in France which have obtained this label”, happily confirms, Aurélien Manencthe mayor of this village of more than 700 souls, permanently flowered. A lovely Christmas gift.

The centuries-old history of Lunas, its associative dynamism, the involvement of traders and craftsmen as well as the actions carried out by the municipality to preserve heritage, were noticed by the jury which has been studying the application file for more than months and carried out an on-site audit last November. The town which is home to a “little Lourdes” as the friendly monk of Notre-Dame de Nize repeatedly repeats, won over the members of the jury.

A rural “little Venice”

“The municipality adheres to the values ​​of the quality charter of “Petites Cités de Caractère® de France” which for more than forty years has aimed to promote atypical municipalities, through their history and their heritage with the objective of safeguarding the heritage in using as a development lever. This is indeed the case of Lunas, whose village was built over time around the eagle’s nest of the Redondel rock, on the edge of its three rivers, its castle rebuilt in the 17th century and its listed monuments”, indicates Aurélien Manenc, also a fire brigade officer at the Sdis 34 headquarters. This picturesque and charming rural village can be described as ” little Venice” of the Hérault hinterland.

In the heart of the Terres d’Hérault Geopark

Lunas, sports village above Salagou Lake, gateway to the Haut Languedoc Regional Natural Park, in the heart of Terres d’Hérault Geoparkis one of the first labeled municipalities in the department. This label, which involves all stakeholders in the life of the town, is recognition of the work accomplished over the years to preserve heritage, improve the quality of life of residents on a daily basis, and offer visitors to our tourist town® a unique experience.

A “water and green setting”

This label will also contribute to the influence of the entire territory of the Orb mountains which is exceptionally rich in its historical, natural and human heritage around geology, water, nature and buildings. It also constitutes a commitment so that “the setting of water and greenery” qu’est Lunas continues, with all stakeholders, efforts to beautify the city and preserve heritage, while meeting the needs of the 21st century. The network of small towns of character will certainly contribute to this. This is a label that will encourage people from Hérault and residents of Occitanie, as well as tourists, to stop off at “the green” Lunas.

Laroque also winner

The town hall of Laroque, which has 1,700 inhabitants, also rejoices on social networks: “this Monday, December 16, 2024, marks an unprecedented turning point in the history of Laroque. Our atypical medieval village is positioned nationally by taking the title of “Little City of Character® of France”. The municipality thus joins the network of some 200 labeled municipalities in France, welcomes the mayor, Pierrick Ciribino. In Laroque, as in Lunas, this precious label will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening tourist attractiveness.

A concept born in the 70s

The concept of Small Cities of Character® is born in the mid 70s to promote atypical municipalities, both rural by their location, their limited population, and urban by their history and heritage. These cities, formerly administrative, political, religious, commercial, military centers, etc. often saw their urban functions reduced after France’s administrative and industrial revolutions. They lost a large part of their urban functions, and found themselves without the population and financial means to maintain this heritage.

The Petites Cités de Caractère® project is, in these municipalities, to unite the different stakeholders around one objective: the preservation of heritage as a lever for territorial development. Other municipalities in Hérault have also been awarded this national label.

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