B茅ziers becomes latest French town to get its own currency
Mairie pins hopes on Franc biterrois to help rejuvenate local businesses post pandemic
The Mairie in B茅ziers is behind the new local currency le Franc biterrois.
PAUL ATKINSON / Shutterstock
The town of B茅ziers in H茅rault now has its own currency or 鈥榤onnaie locale鈥�, the Franc biterrois, designed to encourage people to spend their money locally.
Some 300 local shops and restaurants now accept the Franc biterrois and advertise the fact in their windows.
It is hoped that the local currency will help revive local businesses, especially in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
Municipal workers will be among the first to test out the new currency, with the mairie currently offering to sell it to them in voucher form for half price.
鈥淚 hope a few companies will do the same for their employees. Saying they鈥檒l double the amount. I鈥檓 also counting on the patriotism of the people of B茅ziers to play the game," B茅ziers鈥� far-right mayor Robert M茅nard, told .
It is hoped that the B茅ziers Franc biterrois will become common currency at local cultural events.
Franc biterrois in 鈧�5 and 鈧�10 denominations are available for anyone to purchase at full price from the Tourist Office.
Pierre-Paul Riquet, who spearheaded the building of the Canal du Midi, is one of the famous local faces to feature on the notes, alongside Jean Moulin, who created the National Council of the Resistance in World War Two.
B茅ziers is currently one of around 70 towns and cities in France to have its own local money. Angoul锚me and the Charente have the 鈥楤ulle鈥�, the Vend茅e has the 鈥榁end茅o鈥�, Strasbourg has the 鈥楽t眉ck鈥�, and Limousin has the 鈥楲ou Pelou鈥�.
Historically, the Languedoc region also had its own currency some 800 years ago, in the form of the denier, and Toulouse had its own raimondin.
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