The
CausseThe Causses are a group of limestone plateaus in the Massif Central. They are bordered to the north-west by the Limousin and the Périgord uplands, and to the east by the Aubrac and the Cévennes...
du Larzac is a
limestoneLimestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the mineral calcite . The deposition of limestone strata is often a by-product and indicator of biological activity in the geologic record...
karstKilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after a Yugoslavian geologist Karst. It will consist of about 30 individual...
plateauIn geology and earth science, a plateau, also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain...
in the south of the
Massif CentralThe Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaus....
,
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
, situated between
MillauMillau is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is located at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers.-History:...
(
AveyronAveyron is a department in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790....
) and
LodèveLodève is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
(
HéraultHérault is a department in the south of France named after the Hérault river.-History:Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc....
). It is an agricultural area, where sheep are bred to produce milk for Roquefort cheese.
The
communesThe commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. The French word commune appeared in the 12th century, from Medieval Latin communia, meaning a small gathering of people sharing a common life; from Latin communis, things held in common.French communes are roughly...
of the Larzac are:
- Cornus
Cornus is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Geography:The commune lies on the causse du Larzac.The village lies in the valley of the Dèvre, a tributary of the Sorgues, which has its source in the commune.-See also:...
- Creissels
Creissels is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-See also:* Millau Viaduct* Communes of the Aveyron department...
- La Cavalerie
La Cavalerie is a commune in the Aveyron department in south-western France.-References:*...
- La Couvertoirade
La Couvertoirade is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-History and sites of interest:This well-preserved fortified town was owned by the Knights Templar, under orders from the Commandery of Sainte-Eulalie, from the twelfth century. The Templars built the fortress there during...
- La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite
La Roque Ste Marguerite is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.Lying deep in the scenic Dourbie gorge, the commune absorbed the formerly separate commune of St Verin in 1940, and it also incorporates the village of Pierrefiche du Larzac, which lies much higher on the Causse du...
- L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac
L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Aveyron department...
- Le Caylar
Le Caylar is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.Full name is Le Caylar en Larzac.-References:*...
- Le Cros
Le Cros is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France....
- Les Rives
Les Rives is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France....
- Millau
Millau is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is located at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers.-History:...
- Nant
Nant is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Geography:The commune is located in the southern part of the Massif Central...
- Saint-Félix-de-l'Héras
Saint-Félix-de-l'Héras is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-References:*...
- Saint-Georges-de-Luzençon
Saint-Georges-de-Luzençon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-References:*...
- Saint-Maurice-Navacelles
Saint-Maurice-Navacelles is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department* Cirque de Navacelles* Vis River* Château de Saint-Maurice-References:*...
- Saint-Michel-d'Alajou
- Saint-Pierre-de-la-Fage
Saint-Pierre-de-la-Fage is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-References:*...
- Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon
Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-References:*...
- Sorbs
Sorbs is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
- La Vacquerie-et-Saint-Martin-de-Castries
La Vacquerie-et-Saint-Martin-de-Castries is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
- Vissec
Vissec is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-References:* -External links:...
In October 1970,
National Defense MinisterThe Minister of Defence is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France.A "Secretary of State for War" was one of the four specialised secretaries of state established in France in 1589. This Secretary of State was responsible for the Army. In 1791, the...
Michel DebréMichel Debré was a French Gaullist politician. He is considered the "father" of the current Constitution of France, and was the first Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic...
decided, without consulting the local population, to turn a military camp of 30 km² outside the village of La Cavalerie in
AveyronAveyron is a department in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790....
into a much larger (170 km²) and more strategic
military baseA military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations.- Etymology :...
.
The
CausseThe Causses are a group of limestone plateaus in the Massif Central. They are bordered to the north-west by the Limousin and the Périgord uplands, and to the east by the Aubrac and the Cévennes...
du Larzac is a
limestoneLimestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the mineral calcite . The deposition of limestone strata is often a by-product and indicator of biological activity in the geologic record...
karstKilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after a Yugoslavian geologist Karst. It will consist of about 30 individual...
plateauIn geology and earth science, a plateau, also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain...
in the south of the
Massif CentralThe Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaus....
,
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
, situated between
MillauMillau is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is located at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers.-History:...
(
AveyronAveyron is a department in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790....
) and
LodèveLodève is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
(
HéraultHérault is a department in the south of France named after the Hérault river.-History:Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc....
). It is an agricultural area, where sheep are bred to produce milk for Roquefort cheese.
Geography
The
communesThe commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. The French word commune appeared in the 12th century, from Medieval Latin communia, meaning a small gathering of people sharing a common life; from Latin communis, things held in common.French communes are roughly...
of the Larzac are:
- Cornus
Cornus is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Geography:The commune lies on the causse du Larzac.The village lies in the valley of the Dèvre, a tributary of the Sorgues, which has its source in the commune.-See also:...
- Creissels
Creissels is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-See also:* Millau Viaduct* Communes of the Aveyron department...
- La Cavalerie
La Cavalerie is a commune in the Aveyron department in south-western France.-References:*...
- La Couvertoirade
La Couvertoirade is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-History and sites of interest:This well-preserved fortified town was owned by the Knights Templar, under orders from the Commandery of Sainte-Eulalie, from the twelfth century. The Templars built the fortress there during...
- La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite
La Roque Ste Marguerite is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.Lying deep in the scenic Dourbie gorge, the commune absorbed the formerly separate commune of St Verin in 1940, and it also incorporates the village of Pierrefiche du Larzac, which lies much higher on the Causse du...
- L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac
L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Aveyron department...
- Le Caylar
Le Caylar is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.Full name is Le Caylar en Larzac.-References:*...
- Le Cros
Le Cros is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France....
- Les Rives
Les Rives is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France....
- Millau
Millau is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is located at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers.-History:...
- Nant
Nant is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Geography:The commune is located in the southern part of the Massif Central...
- Saint-Félix-de-l'Héras
Saint-Félix-de-l'Héras is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-References:*...
- Saint-Georges-de-Luzençon
Saint-Georges-de-Luzençon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-References:*...
- Saint-Maurice-Navacelles
Saint-Maurice-Navacelles is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department* Cirque de Navacelles* Vis River* Château de Saint-Maurice-References:*...
- Saint-Michel-d'Alajou
- Saint-Pierre-de-la-Fage
Saint-Pierre-de-la-Fage is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-References:*...
- Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon
Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-References:*...
- Sorbs
Sorbs is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
- La Vacquerie-et-Saint-Martin-de-Castries
La Vacquerie-et-Saint-Martin-de-Castries is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
- Vissec
Vissec is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-References:* -External links:...
History
In October 1970,
National Defense MinisterThe Minister of Defence is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France.A "Secretary of State for War" was one of the four specialised secretaries of state established in France in 1589. This Secretary of State was responsible for the Army. In 1791, the...
Michel DebréMichel Debré was a French Gaullist politician. He is considered the "father" of the current Constitution of France, and was the first Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic...
decided, without consulting the local population, to turn a military camp of 30 km² outside the village of La Cavalerie in
AveyronAveyron is a department in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790....
into a much larger (170 km²) and more strategic
military baseA military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations.- Etymology :...
. Local farmers objected and decided to fight against the project, through actions such as occupation of empty farms purchased by the Army in anticipation of the expansion. French syndicalist and peasant activist
José BovéJoseph Bové is a French farmer and syndicalist, member of the alter-globalization movement, and spokesman for Via Campesina. He was one of the twelve official candidates in the 2007 French presidential election...
moved there during this period in support of the protests. Communards from the nearby Community of the Ark, led by the pacifist
Lanza del VastoLanza del Vasto, , was a philosopher, poet, artist, and nonviolent activist.He was born in San Vito dei Normanni, Italy and died in Elche de la Sierra, Spain....
, were also very active in opposition to the camp. The workers of the occupied and self-managed Lip factory also took part to the movement (
photos).
Following ten years of
nonviolent resistanceNonviolent resistance is the practice of achieving socio-political goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, and other methods, without using violence....
, the plan was cancelled by president
François MitterrandFrançois Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand served as the President of France from 1981 to 1995, elected as representative of the Socialist Party . First elected during the May 1981 presidential election, he became the first socialist President of the Fifth Republic and the first left-wing head of...
after his election in 1981.
Because of its history it was chosen as the site of a massive meeting against the
World Trade OrganizationThe World Trade Organization is an international organization designed by its founders to supervise and liberalize international capital trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, replacing the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade , which...
which took place in August 2003.
http://www.monde-solidaire.org/larzac-2003/uk/ José BovéJoseph Bové is a French farmer and syndicalist, member of the alter-globalization movement, and spokesman for Via Campesina. He was one of the twelve official candidates in the 2007 French presidential election...
currently resides in Larzac - he secured nearly 500,000 votes in the 2007 presidential elections.
Sights
Five medieval fortified villages, related to the
Knights TemplarThe Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order of the Temple , were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
and the
Knights HospitallerThe Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta is a Roman Catholic order based in Rome, Italy...
are located on the Larzac plateau:
- La Cavalerie
La Cavalerie is a commune in the Aveyron department in south-western France.-References:*...
- La Couvertoirade
La Couvertoirade is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-History and sites of interest:This well-preserved fortified town was owned by the Knights Templar, under orders from the Commandery of Sainte-Eulalie, from the twelfth century. The Templars built the fortress there during...
- Saint-Jean-d'Alcas http://www.aveyron.com/english/tourism/templar-alcas.html, part of the Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul
Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-References:*...
commune
- Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon
Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-References:*...
- Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux
Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Aveyron department...