If the flat open lands and the hills around Lunel were densely populated, the first settlement in Lunel seems to occur around year 1000. Written sources mention a lord Gaucelm in 1007 and a “castum” (fortified town) in 1035. At the end of the XIIIth.C.,three centuries after its’ birth, the town gathers more than 5000 inhabitants, obvious sign of its’ dynamism. If the seigniory(Lordship) including 14 villages added to the fortified town, had little influence on the regional politics , its’ power on local level was relevant. At Rosselin Gaucelm s’ death, and with no male heir, Lunel, rich town with numerous salt lofts, is conceded to the hands of the king of France.
In the XIIIth.century, an important jew community settled, it seems since the XIIth.C. is present in Lunel. Probably coming from Spain, it was escaping the reconquest of christians over muslims. As no written document was testifying this fact, a legend started in the XIXth.C. putting the date of 68 A.D. on the creation of the town by a jew community coming from Jericho. Even if very few archeological remains attest of this past, the importance of Lunel ,”little medieval Jerusalem” is undisputed at the XIIth and XIIIth C. thanks to the settlement of an active society of jewish intellectuals which influence extended over the region.
Religious orders were numerous in Lunel : Templars, Carmelites, Capuchins, Franciscans…have left their print on Lunels’ history, as still witnesses some ancient places of worship (ancient chapel of the Sisters of Presentation, presently the Feuillade Hall). Lunel was not free of the religious troubles opposing catholics and protestants, churches and temples were destroyed in the XVIIth.C.
At the crossroads of several roads and rivers linking the Rhône to the South-West, the central position of Lunel made it the regional trading hub. When the canals’and port works ended in 1728, trading activities around Lunel will prosper during a whole century. The numerous dwellings and private hotels (mansions), that we discover while walking around down-town, testifies the rich past of the town.
Covered fish market
This long building, opened by four great arches is the ancient fishes’covered market. It now shelters the Tourist Office of the Pays de Lunel.
The Notre Dame Door
Probably built in the XIIth C.,or at the beginning of the XIIIthC., the Notre-Dame Gate is one of the most imposing remain of the medieval outerwall, which delimitated on an area of 9ha.,the castrum (fortified town).
(crédit photo : Mairie de Lunel)
Prisons' Tower
Joined to the Notre-Dame Gate, the prisons’tower, of which the oldest part of the building takes us back to the XIIth.C.,has kept 2 cells which walls are covered with old graffitis. The Officer of Justice s’house may have been close, maybe on the present site of todays House of Justice and Law. Its’ present frontage of the XVIth C. is one of the 4 examples of the Renaissance-style we can see in Lunel.
(crédit photo : Mairie de Lunel)
Vast gothic house
Wrongly named “the Philippe Le Bel Hotel”, this vast gothic house, whichs’plan is typical of medieval houses, is characteristic of civil architecture of the XIIIth and XIVth.C. The ogival windows, that openworked all the frontages’ width, presents a sculpted scenery, difficult to decipher ; the medieval iconography being very rich and complex. The personified figure, holding two lilies in his hands could be an allegory of royal power.
The "Totem", the hotel of Bernis, and the ancient synagogue
The totem, standing in front of what was a faculty of Science(Medecine) in the XIIIthC., reminds us of the prestigious jewish past of the Pescalune City.
The private hotel of Bernis, between “court and yard”, built at the demand of Jean-Pierre de Pierre, Governor of Lunel in 1706, includes medieval remains within which were “synagoguial departments”: the word synagogue in the middle age referred to all : place of worship, a school and a justice court.
Part of this building located at n° 207 Ménard Street, traditionally qualified a “synagogue” was a public building from the end of the XIIthC. To the beginning of the XIIIthC. It could house in a hundred persons. Two wells have been found not far. An underground basement, bakery with its’ stove you can still see. If no authentic evidence allows us to tell this was the place of worship of the jewish community of Lunel, nothing tells us it wasn’t.
The Building of the Penitents
Ancient convent of the Carmelites bought back after the French Revolution by the Brotherhood of White Penitents of Lunel, this architectural grouping, said, of the “Penitents” now houses he parish hall. In the courtyard, part of the first precinct is still visible. The chapel destroyed and rebuilt many times shelters gothic remains. Its’ imposing frontage of a neo-gothic style from the XIXth.C. has recently had a clearing that rendered its’ former colour.
The Caladons
The architectural grouping of the “Caladons” is a remain of a market square, which might have been lined on all four sides by a vaulted passage quite similar to the one you may still see. The Templars then the Hospitallers, who recovered quite a number of their possessions after the dissolution of the Order by Phillipe Le Bel, probably owned a house here.
(crédit photo : Mairie de Lunel)
La Statue du Capitaine Ménard
In the neighboring sqare of the "Caladons", stands the statue of Captain Ménard erected in his memory by sculptor Auguste Maillard (1861-1892) showing him in a shooting position, this officer, born in 1861, died on a battlefield in Sudan in 1892.
(crédit photo : Mairie de Lunel)
Le Fonds Médard
Facing the church, a building of the beginning of the XVIIIth.C. houses the Fonds Médard, this collection composed of 5000 precious and rare books, was handed over by Louis Médard (1768-1841) to his fellow citizens. We can see manuscripts of the middle age, a copy on large paper of l’Histoire naturelle des oiseaux of Buffon, the Fables of de la Fontaine in the Fermiers Généraux publication illustrated by Oudry, a copy of the 1791 Constitution that once belonged to Louis the XVIth…
L'Eglise Notre-Dame du Lac
Rebuilt during the XVIIth.C.,after the Wars of Religions, the church of Notre-Dame du Lac has kept, from the medieval era, a defensive look-out –clocktower. The “Jesuit-styled” imposing front was restored in 1984. The organ, listed as Historical Furnishure plays remarkably well, it was built in 1856 by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, famous organ maker.
The covered market
Built in 1908-1910 on the ancient presbytery, the covered market of Lunel presents all the typical features of the Parisian covered market by architect Victor Baltard. It combines aesthetic and functionality; the entrance is surmounted by the coats of arms of the town. The use of brick and metal armatures,both gives an eclectic style.
(crédit photo : Mairie de Lunel)
The statue of Pescalune
Made in 2006, the statue of Pescalune, piece of art of sculptor Ben-K, evokes the legend of the fishing the Moon, the “Pescalune”:
“Here are the people of Lunel
Who always make one
A day like passerines
They went fishing for the moon
The moon was lying
They thought she had drowned
And they all went to fish her out
Using a basket that had a hole".
(Photo : Maire de Lunel)
The Statue of Liberty
Erected to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution the statue of liberty, reduced piece of work of Bartholdi was removed in 1943 and melted for military purposes.
The 200 year old anniversary of the French Revolution has been the occasion to give back to Lunels’ natives, thanks to a public subscription, their “Marianne”.It was unveiled the 25th of Febuary of 1989.
The Local Hospital (Ancient Convent of the Capuchins)
Ancient convent of the Capuchins erecred in 1640 and now renewed, it now houses part of the local hospital services. While driving on National Road 113, on one side, you will see the ancient cloister.
Ancien Port of Lunel
The ancient port of Lunel, which linked both the Golden Pond and the Radelle canal thanks to a canal still in use (partly), was located under the present parking of the canal. Playing an important part in trading exchanges, it saw wheat and fodder, salt, charcoal and wood pass in transit. Du to its’ decline, it will be filled up, as well as a part of the canal.
Municipal Park of Jean Hugo
The Jean-Hugo park, was named so in 1985, in memory of Jean Hugo (1894-1984), grand son of Victor Hugo, he was a decorator, painter, sculptor and writer, who settled in Lunel in 1929. It is enlivened with several statues and commemorative monuments : The War Memorial monument from Paul Dardé (1888-1963); The Remorse from Jean Amy (1839-1907) and the bust of Henri de Bornier, poet, novelist and dramatist member of the “Académie Française” born in Lunel in 1825.
In the neighboring sqare of the "Caladons", stands the statue of Captain Ménard erected in his memory by sculptor Auguste Maillard (1861-1892) showing him in a shooting position, this officer, born in 1861, died on a battlefield in Sudan in 1892. 
Made in 2006, the statue of Pescalune, piece of art of sculptor Ben-K, evokes the legend of the fishing the Moon, the “Pescalune”: 
