Rochebelle

Rochebelle is an emblematic district of the city of Alès, which took off in the 19th century with coal mining, but in reality has a much longer history. It was occupied in the Middle Ages, with the opening of an open-cast mine on the Montaud hill.It was on this same hill that Louis XIII set up his artillery in 1629 during the siege of Alès.In the 19th century, as in many towns in the Cévennes and foothills, sericulture developed and a spinning mill appeared in the area. The activity soon went into recession and was abandoned in favor of coal mining. By the end of the 19th century, Rochebelle's physiognomy had changed to reflect the daily life of the miners: mining sites, homes, shops... The name “ROCHEBELLE” comes from “BELLE ROCHE”, which refers to the Roche du Duret, which collapsed in 1853. The name “ROCHEBELLE” was adopted by the town council in 1835 to designate the main street in the faubourg du Marché.