Plaissan (French pronunciation: [plesɑ̃]) is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France.

Plaissan
Coat of arms of Plaissan
Location of Plaissan
Map
Plaissan is located in France
Plaissan
Plaissan
Plaissan is located in Occitanie
Plaissan
Plaissan
Coordinates: 43°33′32″N 3°31′36″E / 43.5589°N 3.5267°E / 43.5589; 3.5267
CountryFrance
RegionOccitania
DepartmentHérault
ArrondissementLodève
CantonGignac
IntercommunalityVallée de l'Hérault
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Béatrice Fernando[1]
Area
1
5.79 km2 (2.24 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,545
 • Density270/km2 (690/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
34204 /34230
Elevation35–165 m (115–541 ft)
(avg. 65 m or 213 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Exposed to a Mediterranean climate, Plaissan is drained by the Dardaillon, the Rouvièges stream, and two other rivers. The municipality has a remarkable natural heritage, which includes an area of ecological, fauna, and floristic interest.

Geography

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Between the sea and the Cévennes, the village is surrounded by vineyards and scrubland.

Montpellier is 35 km to the east, while Béziers is 40 km to the west. The sea is 30 km to the south.

Climate

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In 2010, the municipality’s climate was classified as Mediterranean, based on a study using data from 1971 to 2001. According to Météo-France's 2020 climate typology for metropolitan France, the municipality falls within the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Languedoc-Roussillon climate region. The region is characterized by low summer rainfall, abundant sunshine (2,600 hours per year), hot summers (average temperature of 21.5 °C), very dry air in summer, dry conditions throughout the year, frequent strong winds (40 to 50% of days with winds > 5 m/s), and little fog.[3]

From 1971 to 2000, the average annual temperature in the municipality was 14.5 °C, with a yearly thermal range of 16.3 °C. Annual precipitation averaged 721 mm, with 6.1 days of rainfall in January and 2.6 days in July.[4] Between 1991 and 2020, the nearest weather station in Saint-André-de-Sangonis recorded an average annual temperature of 15.5 °C and an average annual precipitation of 652.4 mm. Climate projections for 2050, based on various greenhouse gas emission scenarios, are available on a dedicated website published by Météo-France in November 2022.[5][6][7]

Natural environments and biodiversity

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The Inventory of Natural Areas of Ecological, Fauna, and Floristic Interest (ZNIEFF) aims to encompass the most ecologically significant areas, primarily to enhance understanding of the national natural heritage and to provide regional planners with a tool to integrate environmental considerations into their decision-making processes.

In the municipality, a ZNIEFF type 2, noted as "Causse of Aumelas and Moure Mountain" (16,237 ha), is designated, spanning across 16 municipalities within the department.[8][9]

Population

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Plaissan is a rural municipality with a population of 1,545 in 2021, having experienced a significant increase in population since 1975. It is part of the Montpellier attraction area. The inhabitants of Plaissan are called Plaissanais (male) or Plaissanaises (female).

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962590—    
1968641+8.6%
1975543−15.3%
1982597+9.9%
1990616+3.2%
1999642+4.2%
2008890+38.6%

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Climatic zoning in metropolitan France". pluiesextremes.meteo.fr. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. ^ Daniel Joly, Thierry Brossard, Hervé Cardot, Jean Cavailhes, Mohamed Hilal, Pierre Wavresky (18 June 2010). "Climate types in France: a spatial construction". Cybergéo, European Journal of Geography (in French) (501). doi:10.4000/cybergeo.23155. Retrieved 15 November 2023.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Weather Station Météo-France "St Andre De Sangonis" (commune of Saint-André-de-Sangonis) - climatological data sheet - period 1991-2020" (PDF). donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Weather Station Météo-France "St Andre De Sangonis" (commune of Saint-André-de-Sangonis) - metadata sheet" (PDF). donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Climadiag Commune: diagnose the climate issues of your community". meteofrance.fr. November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  8. ^ "List of ZNIEFF in the municipality of Plaissan". National Inventory of Natural Heritage website. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  9. ^ "ZNIEFF "Causse d'Aumelas and Montagne de la Moure" - descriptive sheet". National Inventory of Natural Heritage website. Retrieved 29 August 2021.