1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Pézenas

PÉZENAS, a town of southern France, in the department of Hérault 33 m. W.S.W. of Montpellier on the southern railway. Pop. (1906), 6432. The commerce in cognac, spirits and wines is so important that the prices current for these at the weekly sales are registered throughout the wine marts of France and Europe. There is a handsome monument to Molière, who lived at Pézenas several years and produced his first plays there in 1655 and 1656. A gateway (15th century) and old mansion of the 15th and 16th centuries are of interest.

Pézenas (Piscennae) was founded by the Gauls. In the 10th century it became the capital of a countship subsequently held by important families including those of Montmorency, Condé and Conti. In the 17th century the town was on several occasions the meeting place of the estates of Languedoc.