Lodève (French pronunciation: [lodɛv] ⓘ; Occitan: Lodeva, [luˈðeβɔ]; Latin: Luteva) is a commune in the department of Hérault, in the region of Occitania, southern France.

Lodève is surrounded by green hills and vineyards and lies only 8 km (5.0 mi) from the large man-made Lac du Salagou.

Violent storms and torrential rain are frequently seen in late summer, leading to flooding and the muds and swamps that gave the city its name.

[4] It was also a centre for textile production under Louis XV and was home to one of only two royal manufactories for tapestry, the other being the one of the Gobelins in Paris[citation needed].

[citation needed] The "Voix de la Méditerranée" poetry festival, established in 1998, takes place every July for around 9 days, and involves poets, musicians and writers from many different countries on the Mediterranean.