Alès
Alès has a rich historical heritage. From the Arecomic Volques of Alais Charter, to the wars of religion , including the Paix d’Alais (1629) and the Camisards Revolt ( 1702-1704), these were among the most significant events for our city. The place Alès held in the Antiquity was recently reconsidered since the largest mosaic inFrance, dated from Julius Caesar, was found on the colline de l'Ermitage in July 2008, which lets us think that the 1st century BC city which stood on an important commercial road, may have been larger and richer than it was first thought…
But above all things, it is with its industrial history that Alès distinguishes itself, since it has successively been the City of Silk, of Coal, and of Ironworks.

Grand Alès
The first structure of intermunicipal cooperation in Languedoc-Roussillon, according to the law of July 12th, 1999. The Agglomeration Communities of Grand Alès was created in 2000 by the gathering of towns surrounding Alès and which already formed since 1993 a federation of municipalities (communauté de communes) of Grand Alès.
At the very beginning this federation numbered 9 municipalities, as soon as 2002 they were 16 in the same area of development and solidarity. Grand Alès now numbers about 77 000 inhabitants spread on 70439 acres.

Grand Alès especially works on the opening up of the Alès basin, the expanding of economic development zones, the creation of a “Tourist” field, the rehabilitation of city centers, the restructuration of transportation, the building of new accommodations, the development of residential places for the elderly, the reinforcing of the town policy, and the development of child-care facilities. Grand Alès moves with the times and regularly gains new competences.

A few dates:

• 5000 BC: first settlement in the region of Alès.
• 4th century BC: The Arecomic Volques (a Gaul people) settle in the region. A lot of relics of their presence on the Oppidum of the Ermitage are still to be seen at the Musée du Colombier.
• Roman Period:
  - a roman mosaic dated from 50 BC was discovered during summer 2008 at the Ermitage. It is the largest mosaic to have been discovered in France.
  - by the end of the Roman period, a small town of wooden houses develops around what is now known as place Saint-Jean. Among its inhabitants, prospectors went mining gold in the rivers, silver-lead in Carnoulès, and the Iron of Trepeloup.
• Beginning of the Merovingian Period: the local coin was called “Alesto” from the Phoenician word which meant “iron”.
• 1200: The Alais Charter establishes the rights of its inhabitants, for instance the right to elect 2 or 4 consuls.
• 1620: The general synod of the Reformed Churches of France takes place in Alès, rallied to the Protestant Reformation. After a violent conflict with the Crown, the Paix d’Alais is signed in 1629 and authorizes freedom of worship for the Protestants.
• 17th century: You can admire the Fort Vauban from the Jardins du Bosquet . It was built on the order of King Louis XIV so as to accommodate the royal troops during the Camisards War. The Gardens on which you walk to gaze at the ford were created in the 18th century.
• 18th century: the silk industry highly develops; coal mines are opened. Alès enlarges as far as 11 000 inhabitants.
• 19th century: Industrialization of the Alès basin. The first half of the century saw the creation of the railroad track. The Compagnie des Mines, Fonderies et Forges d’Alès is created in 1830. The first school to train master mechanics and the forerunner of the Ecole des Mines. It opens in 1843. Silk trading reaches its peak in 1855, but in the meantime, Pébrine - a silkworm disease - emerges. This disease leads Louis Pasteur to settle in Alès from 1865 to 1869 as he is looking for a cure. Still in the 19th century, it is Alphonse Daudet who settles in Alès and becomes a supervisor. This experience will eventually inspire him a few passages for his “Petit Chose”.
• 20th century: the coal production keeps on increasing, and reaches 2 millions tons in 1912. In 1947, there are 20 000 minors in the Alès basin! But from 1958 on, the cost prices grow less and less competitive and the production gradually decreases. Mines are closed one by one, and the last coal mines to close are the Puit Destival in 1986 and la Mine des Oules in 1988. As a consequence, Alès is in decline for a few years until mid 1990’s.
  Since then, and with the impetus for dynamism given by Max Roustan – who was elected as Mayor in 1995 – Alès follows a dynamic poliy in industry, trade and tourism. Three main economic fields have been created - in Mechanics, Biotechnologies and Green-activities – to boost the basin as it is experiencing a significant population growth. Alès has made a dynamic entrance in the 21st century with the agglomeration communities of Grand Alès and with the Pays Cévennes.