Olargues

Olargues
Commune
A general view of Olargues
Coat of arms
Location of Olargues
Olargues Location within France Show map of France Olargues Location within Occitanie Show map of Occitanie
Coordinates: 43°33′26″N 2°54′55″E / 43.5572°N 2.9153°E / 43.5572; 2.9153
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Hérault
Arrondissement	Béziers
Canton	Saint-Pons-de-Thomières
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Jean Arcas1
Area 1	18.6 km2 (7.2 sq mi)
Population  (2023)2	488
• Density	26.2/km2 (68.0/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	34187 /34390
Elevation	148–760 m (486–2,493 ft) (avg. 183 m or 600 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Olargues (French pronunciation: [ɔlaʁɡ]) is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France. It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Association.³

Olargues is a good example of a French Medieval town. It was occupied by the Romans, the Vandals and the Visigoths. At the end of the 11th century the Jaur valley came under the authority of the Château of the Viscount of Minerve. The following centuries saw a succession of wars and epidemics, and it was not until the 18th century that Olargues became re-established. This was due to the prosperity of local agriculture and artisanal industry.

The "Devil's Bridge" is said to date back to 1202 and is reputed to be the scene of transactions between the people of Olargues and the "devil". The old village is clustered around the belltower, which was formerly the main tower of the castle (Romanesque construction). The old shops have marble frontages and overhanging upper storeys. A museum of popular traditions and art is to be found in the stairs of the Commanderie.