Mende, Administrative center in Lozère, France
Mende is a commune in Lozère in southern France that spreads across a valley and is surrounded by wooded hills. Stone bridges cross the small Lot River, which flows through the center and connects the different town quarters.
A Celtic settlement stood here already in ancient times and carried the name Mimata. The town grew in the Middle Ages under episcopal rule and experienced its greatest expansion during church building projects in the 14th century.
The bishop's palace stands beside the cathedral and reflects the town's long church tradition. Locals often call the old town le centre historique and connect it with regional festivals in summer.
The center is easy to explore on foot, with most streets radiating from the square in front of the cathedral. Visitors find market stalls on Saturday mornings and several small shops along the main streets that offer regional produce.
The cathedral houses one of the largest bells in Europe, called Non Marie, which weighs several tons. Visitors can see the outline of Mont Mimat from the church tower, which overlooks the entire region.
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