France: Hérault Under Red Alert After Days of Intense Rainfall 5

Rare and severe flooding hit southern France on Monday, December 22, placing the Hérault department under red alert after torrential rain pushed river levels near Agde to a record 3.57 meters. Montpellier was inundated with around 300 millimeters of rain in three days, flooding streets, disrupting transportation, forcing evacuations, and leaving up to 3,000 households without power. On Tuesday, authorities said water levels were stabilizing and rainfall was easing, though Hérault remained under red alert. No casualties were reported.

France: Hérault Under Red Alert After Days of Intense Rainfall 4

Rare and severe flooding hit southern France on Monday, December 22, placing the Hérault department under red alert after torrential rain pushed river levels near Agde to a record 3.57 meters. Montpellier was inundated with around 300 millimeters of rain in three days, flooding streets, disrupting transportation, forcing evacuations, and leaving up to 3,000 households without power. On Tuesday, authorities said water levels were stabilizing and rainfall was easing, though Hérault remained under red alert. No casualties were reported.

Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - MAINE ET LOIRE (49) - CASTLE OF BRISSAC : THEATER. ABANDONED FOR 50 YEARS, IT WAS BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED IN THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY. THE MARQUISE DE BRISSAC, BORN JEANNE SAY, HAD IT ARRANGED BECAUSE IT WAS A GREAT PASSIONATE OPERA AND A TALENTED INTERPRETER BUT ITS TITLE AND RANK FORBADE ANY REPRESENTATION IN PUBLIC. THE 200-SEAT THEATER WAS INAUGURATED IN 1890. ACCOMPANIED BY HER MUSIC LOVERS, SHE PERFORMED WORKS BY WAGNER, GOUNOD, MASSENET, SAINT-SAENS, DONIZETTI AND OFFENBACH. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - MAINE ET LOIRE (49) - CASTLE OF BRISSAC : HOUSE OF HUNTS. IT HOUSES A SERIES OF TAPESTRIES OF GERMAN ORIGIN INSPIRED BY THE "HUNTS OF MAXIMILIAN". THESE TAPESTRIES BELONGED TO TWO KINGS OF FRANCE, LOUIS XIV AND LOUIS PHILIPPE, BEFORE BEING ACQUIRED BY THE BRISSAC DURING THE SECOND EMPIRE. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE. LOIRE VALLEY. MAINE ET LOIRE (49) CHATEAU DE BRISSAC. AERIAL VIEW FROM THE NORTH-EAST, IN THE RISING SUN. AT 48 METRES HIGH, WITH 7 STOREYS AND 204 ROOMS, IT IS THE TALLEST CASTLE IN FRANCE AND WELL DESERVES ITS NICKNAME OF THE ?GIANT OF THE LOIRE VALLEY?. ACQUIRED IN 1502 BY RENE DE COSSE, 1ST LORD OF BRISSAC, IT IS NOW THE RESIDENCE OF THE 13TH DUKE OF BRISSAC. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE. MAINE ET LOIRE (49) BRISSAC CASTLE. AERIAL VIEW OF THE HIGHEST CHATEAU IN FRANCE, SURNAMED AS THE ?GIANT OF THE VAL DE LOIRE?, WITH ITS 48 M HEIGHT, 7 FLOORS AND 204 ROOMS. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - MAINE ET LOIRE (49) - CASTLE OF BRISSAC : GOLDEN SALON. MANY WORKS SURMOUNT ITS MAGNIFICENT 17TH CENTURY CEILING WITH CARVED BEAMS AND PEDESTALS. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE. LOIRE VALLEY. MAINE ET LOIRE (49) CHATEAU DE BRISSAC. AERIAL VIEW FROM THE NORTH-EAST, IN THE RISING SUN. AT 48 METRES HIGH, WITH 7 STOREYS AND 204 ROOMS, IT IS THE TALLEST CASTLE IN FRANCE AND WELL DESERVES ITS NICKNAME OF THE ?GIANT OF THE LOIRE VALLEY?. ACQUIRED IN 1502 BY RENE DE COSSE, 1ST LORD OF BRISSAC, IT IS NOW THE RESIDENCE OF THE 13TH DUKE OF BRISSAC. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

FRANCE. LOIRE VALLEY. MAINE ET LOIRE (49) CHATEAU DE BRISSAC. AERIAL VIEW FROM THE NORTH-EAST, IN THE RISING SUN. AT 48 METRES HIGH, WITH 7 STOREYS AND 204 ROOMS, IT IS THE TALLEST CASTLE IN FRANCE AND WELL DESERVES ITS NICKNAME OF THE ?GIANT OF THE LOIRE VALLEY?. ACQUIRED IN 1502 BY RENE DE COSSE, 1ST LORD OF BRISSAC, IT IS NOW THE RESIDENCE OF THE 13TH DUKE OF BRISSAC. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

FRANCE. LOIRE VALLEY. MAINE ET LOIRE (49) CHATEAU DE BRISSAC. AERIAL VIEW FROM THE NORTH-EAST, IN THE RISING SUN. AT 48 METRES HIGH, WITH 7 STOREYS AND 204 ROOMS, IT IS THE TALLEST CASTLE IN FRANCE AND WELL DESERVES ITS NICKNAME OF THE ?GIANT OF THE LOIRE VALLEY?. ACQUIRED IN 1502 BY RENE DE COSSE, 1ST LORD OF BRISSAC, IT IS NOW THE RESIDENCE OF THE 13TH DUKE OF BRISSAC. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

FRANCE. LOIRE VALLEY. MAINE ET LOIRE (49) CHATEAU DE BRISSAC. AERIAL VIEW FROM THE NORTH-EAST, IN THE RISING SUN. AT 48 METRES HIGH, WITH 7 STOREYS AND 204 ROOMS, IT IS THE TALLEST CASTLE IN FRANCE AND WELL DESERVES ITS NICKNAME OF THE ?GIANT OF THE LOIRE VALLEY?. ACQUIRED IN 1502 BY RENE DE COSSE, 1ST LORD OF BRISSAC, IT IS NOW THE RESIDENCE OF THE 13TH DUKE OF BRISSAC. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM