Location: Laurens in France
Car: recommended
Laurens The History:
With a population of just over 1000 is an ancient village, situated 30 kilometres from the sea on the slopes of a chain of hills overlooking the north of the Béziers plain, lies bathed in the Mediterranean sun. Flora thrives in this favourable landscape, especially the bay laurel tree, whence its Roman name from the 1st century AD of 'Laureus' or Laurens.
In the 3rd century the villagers, now wholly christianised, were jealous at the lack of a Patron Saint of which all the neighbouring villages could boast. They decided on St. Laurent (Laurentius), and it obviated their searching too far. The citizens proved themselves to be greatly industrious from the start. In the place known as 'the Kilns' (les Tuileries) two dozen potters made flat-bottomed Gallo-Roman amphoras which were coated on the inside with resin. These were, stored in wicker baskets or buried in the sand and were used to conserve the wine