Pézenas & Molière
A Short Tour of Béziers & the Region ( page 21 of 22 )
Nearby is the small town of Pézenas, in the Hérault Valley "Val d'Hérault", ancient home of the Etats Gènèraux du Languedoc and where Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, Parisien playwright and actor came to success, before returning in triumph to Paris, he was better known by his stage name Molière. Robert Clive, Clive of India holidayed here with his family on the way home to Market Drayton in England, a fact that surely must have led to the twinning of the two towns. Whilst here his cooks shared the recipe for a great favourite of his, a small mince pie, they are still made here today as the renowned Petits Pâtes de Pézenas.
Born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, (15 January 1622 - 17 February 1673), and rated by many critics as the greatest comic dramatist of all times and considered worthy to stand with Sophocles and Shakespeare. It was here in Pézenas that he took the stage name Molière after he was elected leader of his troop of actors following the original manager's absconded with the troop's funds.
Marcel Pagnol¹ wrote :
"Jean-Baptiste Poquelin was born in Paris. Molière was born in Pézenas."
¹ : Marcel Pagnol (1895 - 1974) - novelist, playwright and film-maker
Pézenas is a town with many very interesting buildings, go to the tourist office and obtain your copy of the guide (many languages available), then follow the instructions. You will be amazed at the number of houses, some private, that are open and well worth a visit, but do remember that at 12:00 it is lunchtime and they won't want to see you, you'll need to eat anyway so it's probably best if you make a booking somewhere early in your tour.
