Melgueil

Melgueil, now known as Mauguio, lies in the lowlands east of Montpellier near the lagoons of Languedoc. In the Middle Ages it was the seat of the counts of Melgueil, whose castle stood on a large artificial mound. Their coinage, the denier of Melgueil, circulated widely across Languedoc and gave the small town an importance beyond its immediate surroundings.

The old castle and walls were destroyed after 1622 during the religious wars. The count-bishops of Montpellier built a new residence on the ruins. Around this time the name Melgueil gradually gave way to Mauguio. During the French Revolution the commune was temporarily called Mont-Salaison, and its citizens formed a society of friends of the constitution.