Tourism at Gémenos Hôtel Le Provence Gémenos

Origins to The Late Roman Empire: Locus Gargarius

Joined at the heart of Provence, Gémenos has a long history. Archaeological excavations have established that the site of Saint-Jean-de-Garguier was occupied long before the Gallo-Roman and uninterruptedly to the 6th century AD The existence of one of the most old Christian communities in Provence is attested from the early 5th century Locus Gargarius (now Saint-Jean-de-Garguier).

The title deed of Count Wilhelm (9 February 984) reported for the first time the existence, at the entrance of the valley of Saint-Pons, a fortified village, the birthplace of the city today.
Nearby, in 1205, Dame Garcende founded the abbey of Saint-Pons, who is central to the development of industrial activity from hydropower in the domain of Saint-Pons.
By the mid 15th century the Castrum Gemini is gradually abandoned in favor of a rural settlement located in the plain of Fauge.

In 1563, the lords of the of Albertas buy Gémenos seigniory and begin the cultivation of land previously flooded (draining the Wetlands). Thus, it is they who are the initiators of establishing the village in its modern form. In the 18th century, the Marquis d'Albertas complete ownership by acquiring the domain of Saint-Pons. Following the Cistercians, the Marquis Jean-Baptiste d'Albertas, acquired the ideas of the Enlightenment, infuses Gémenos a real dynamic industrial development in the valley of Saint-Pons a wide range of small industries such as stationery Paradou. The castle of the Marquis d'Albertas has experienced over the centuries many changes. Became City Hall in 1893, it was restored in 2002 respecting the original appearance of the building. Part of the village's history, it has now become the symbol of the town.