Martigues

Martigues
Le Miroir aux oiseaux (Mirror Bird) area
Coat of arms
Martigues
Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region Martigues
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department	Bouches-du-Rhône
Arrondissement	Istres
Canton	Martigues-Est and Martigues-Ouest
Intercommunality	Ouest de l'Étang de Berre
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Gaby Charroux
Area1	71.44 km2 (27.58 sq mi)
Population (2008)2	46,471
• Density	650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	13056 / 13500
Elevation	0–187 m (0–614 ft) (avg. 1 m or 3.3 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Martigues (Occitan: Lo Martegue in classical norm, Lou Martegue in Mistralian norm) is a commune northwest of Marseille. It is part of the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the eastern end of the Canal de Caronte.

A direct translation from the Martigues Tourisme Website reveals the following about Martigues:

Nicknamed the "Provençale Venice", Martigues is a point of passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Martigues (now Etang de Berre), close to the Côte d'Azur. The charm of its canals, its docks and bridges made it "The Venice of Provence". Martigues possesses also its cooperative winery "La Venise provençale": Coteaux d'Aix en Provence, rosé, red and white wines, fruit juices and natural oils in the region. Main varietals: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Clairette.

History

Martigues was founded by Ramon Berenguer IV, count of Provence in 1232 on the likely site of the Roman camp Maritima Avaticorum.

Policy

Gaby Charroux, deputy Mayor of the City of Martigues was born June 25, 1942 in Alger. On 29 May 2009 he succeeded Paul Lombard, Mayor resigned, and has since committed to continue the work for the future of Martigues. For him, being elected is "work, work, again and again" in order to improve the lives of the governed and to serve the general interest.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1793	6,695	—
1800	6,869	+2.6%
1806	6,888	+0.3%
1821	7,255	+5.3%
1831	7,438	+2.5%
1836	7,299	−1.9%
1841	7,772	+6.5%
1846	7,873	+1.3%
1851	8,640	+9.7%
1856	8,099	−6.3%
1861	8,433	+4.1%
1866	8,011	−5.0%
1872	8,053	+0.5%
1876	6,963	−13.5%
1881	6,483	−6.9%
1886	6,494	+0.2%
1891	5,918	−8.9%
1896	5,659	−4.4%
1901	6,280	+11.0%
1906	5,734	−8.7%
1911	7,450	+29.9%
1921	6,304	−15.4%
1926	8,876	+40.8%
1931	9,394	+5.8%
1936	10,489	+11.7%
1946	11,295	+7.7%
1954	15,150	+34.1%
1962	21,515	+42.0%
1968	27,945	+29.9%
1975	26,477	−5.3%
1982	42,037	+58.8%
1990	42,678	+1.5%
1999	43,497	+1.9%
2008	46,471	+6.8%
2011	47,614	+2.5%

Transport

The Gare de Martigues railway station is served by regional trains between Miramas and Marseille.

Personalities

• Gerard Thom (Frère Gérard), founder of the Knights Hospitaller
• Etienne Auteman / Authement, City Attorney 1700
• Étienne Richaud (1841-1889), Principal private secretary (Gambetta's Ministry), Governor of La Réunion, Governor General for Inde française
• Charles Maurras (1868-1952), poet and political theorist
• Nadjim Abdou, footballer
• Ali Ahamada, footballer
• Maurice Dalé, footballer
• Rod Fanni, footballer
• Foued Kadir, footballer
• André-Pierre Gignac footballer
• Amor Kehiha, footballer
• Imany, singer
• Giacomo and Gilles Coustellier, both multiple mountainbike trials world champions

See also

• Étang de Berre
• Communes of the Bouches-du-Rhône department

External links

• Official website
• INSEE