1. City and nature

1.1 Origins of the town

Four periods have marked the origins of the town:

• During the Neolithic period, around 8,000 years ago, human beings gradually moved from a nomadic life as hunters and gatherers to become breeders and farmers. This was the origin of the first villages, where urban and rural life were intimately linked;

• In the Middle Ages, towns expanded with the development of agriculture and crafts. Nobles and ecclesiastics grew richer, and the medieval town, with its castle and ramparts, was built. Under seigneurial rule, town and country complemented each other;

• in the 17th century, the city was shaped by social elites, with a concentration of state structures....