The site of Alès has been populated, continuously, for more than 7.000 years. Volsques Arécomiques, Gallic people, settle there to the 4 E century before J.C. During the Roman period, a small agglomeration of wood houses develops, around the current Midsummer's Day place. Among its inhabitants, prospectors leave to extract gold from the rivers, the siver-bearing lead of Carnoulès, the iron of Trepeloup. At the beginning of the time mérovingienne, a local currency bears the name of Alesto, derived from the word iron in Phénicien. But this prosperity is affected by invasions sarrasines, then Hungarian.
During the Middle Ages , Alès becomes a rich borough. In 1200, the "Charter of Alais" fixes the rights of its inhabitants, in particular that to elect 2 or 4 consuls.
The history of Alès is marked by the Protestant Reform. Rejoined with this cause, the city accomodates, in 1620, the general synod of the Reformed Churches of France. After a hard conflict with the royal capacity, it is the "Peace of Alais", signed in 1629, which recognizes with the Protestants the freedom of worship.
To the XVIII E century , the industry of silk strongly develops and of the coal mines are open. Alès increases, until counting 11 000 inhabitants.
The XIX E century is that of industrialization. Its first half sees the appearance of the railroad. The Company of the Mines, Foundries and Forging mills of Alès is created in 1830, the first school of training of the master craftsmen is open in 1843. For silk, the apogee is reached in 1855, date of the appearance of the pébrine, disease of the worms with silk which leads Louis Pasteur to remain of 1865 to 1869 in Alès, where it found the remedy for this epidemic.
Always to the XIX E century , Alès lodges Alphonse Daudet, which there will be a Master of studies, experiment of which it will draw certain passages from the "Small Thing".
To the XX E century , the coal production initially continues to increase, reaching 2 million tons in 1912. In 1947, one counts 20 000 minors in the Basin of Alès! But since 1958, the cost prices become not very competing compared to the other sources of energy and the production drops gradually. Currently, Alès continues a policy dynamic, and built via the Community of Agglomeration a vast project of tourist development.
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