A village of vines on the banks of the Coulazou
Cournonterral has 7,359 inhabitants and extends 28.8 km2, along the Coulazou River, a river that flows from the Boissière River to the Mosson River. The village belongs to the same historic canton as Fabrègues, Pignan, Saussan and Saint-Georges-d-Orques, about 15 km from Montpellier, 22 km from Sète and 12 km from the Aresquiers beach, in Vic-la-Gardiole. The territory has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as witnessed by caves, tumulus and neolithic pottery, before the installation of Roman villas. Agriculture remains viticulture oriented, but the number of farms fell from 104 in 1988 to 30 in 2020, a decrease of 71%, while the agricultural area used increased from 1,072 to 796 hectares over the same period. The commune is continuing its development, with a new area planned at the place called Les Joncasses, on 17 hectares.
Take 15 minutes to Saint-Jean-de-Védas
Take a 15-minute drive from Saint-Jean-de-Védas, for 10.8 kilometres, through the department D 5, which crosses the village from northeast to southwest before continuing towards Pignan and Saussan. The D 114 then takes over to the beaches of Frontignan.
The Feast of Pailhasses, a unique tradition in Languedoc
Cournonterral is distinguished by its Feast of Pailhasses, celebrated every Wednesday of Ashes : men covered with sheep's hides and wine lees travel the streets of the village, a carnival tradition born from a rowed battle with the inhabitants of Aumelas in 1346, around a woodcut in the surrounding green oak woods. The city also organizes an international music festival every Easter weekend.
Swimming, playing, strolling : the facilities of the village
The village has an intercommunal swimming pool, the Poseidon swimming pool, as well as several green spaces : the Jean-Moulin esplanade, the public park, the public garden and the Marcelin-Albert square, where one can extend a walk after the market. La Vigne du Parc, a small conservatory vineyard in the heart of the village, recalls the wine vocation of the commune. Cournonterral is served by lines 34 and 38 of the TAM bus network, which connects it to Montpellier. The municipality has 546 establishments, of which 23.3% are in trade, transport, accommodation and catering, 127 of the total.
Fairs, media library and village parties
Cournonterral has long been the shopping center of south-west Montpellier, thanks to its fairs organized on the great esplanade of the village. Today, the commune is home to local shops, a crèche, a Ludotheque, a media library and an antenna of the Conservatoire de Musique de Montpellier; Six general practitioners, four dentists, two pharmacies and eight physiotherapists practice there. Beyond the Pailhasses, a votive party animates the village on the first weekend of August, and the commune participates in the Regional Festival Total Festum in June, with master-studies of tambourine ball in the summer on this same esplanade.
For whom this step makes sense
- An immersion in a real wine village : vineyards, garrigue and local party, a quarter hour from Saint-Jean-de-Védas.
- A long sports weekend, between the Poseidon pool and the trails along the Coulazou.
- A stop on the road to Sète or the beaches of Frontignan, via the D 114.
Studio or duplex after a trip to Cournonterral
For an active stay, the duplex with its washing machine is suitable for a family coming several days. On two, the studio enough, with its workspace for those who combine telework and outings in Cournonterral. To extend westward, the page dedicated to Saussan complete this itinerary in the same canton.
