Larzac
Encyclopedia
Causses
The 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. Large river gorges cut through the plateaus, such as the Tarn, Dourbie, Jonte, Lot and Aveyron...
du Larzac is a limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
karst
KARST
Kilometer-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 the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
in the south of the Massif Central
Massif Central
The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, situated between Millau
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:...
(Aveyron
Aveyron
Aveyron is a département in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790....
) and Lodève
Lodève
Lodève is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
(Hérault
Hérault
Hérault 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 is an agricultural area, where sheep are bred to produce milk for Roquefort cheese.
Geography
The communesCommunes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of the Larzac are:
- CornusCornus, AveyronCornus 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.-Population:-References:...
- CreisselsCreisselsCreissels is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
- La CavalerieLa CavalerieLa Cavalerie is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
- La CouvertoiradeLa CouvertoiradeLa 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-MargueriteLa Roque-Sainte-MargueriteLa 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-LarzacL'Hospitalet-du-LarzacL'Hospitalet-du-Larzac is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
- Le CaylarLe CaylarLe Caylar is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.Full name is Le Caylar en Larzac.-References:*...
- Le CrosLe CrosLe Cros is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France....
- Les RivesLes RivesLes Rives is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France....
- MillauMillauMillau is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is located at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers.-History:...
- NantNant, AveyronNant 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'HérasSaint-Félix-de-l'HérasSaint-Félix-de-l'Héras is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-References:*...
- Saint-Georges-de-LuzençonSaint-Georges-de-LuzençonSaint-Georges-de-Luzençon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. The commune was part of the Rouergue province, where people communicated with a variation of the Occitan language, Rouergat.-Population:...
- Saint-Maurice-NavacellesSaint-Maurice-NavacellesSaint-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-FageSaint-Pierre-de-la-FageSaint-Pierre-de-la-Fage is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-References:*...
- Sainte-Eulalie-de-CernonSainte-Eulalie-de-CernonSainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
- SorbsSorbs, HéraultSorbs 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-CastriesLa Vacquerie-et-Saint-Martin-de-CastriesLa 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...
- VissecVissecVissec is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-External links:...
History
In October 1970, Michel DebréMichel Debré
Michel Jean-Pierre 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...
, the French Minister of Defense, decided for strategic purposes to expand a military camp outside the village of La Cavalerie in the French département of Aveyron
Aveyron
Aveyron is a département in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790....
, from 30 km² to 170 km², without consulting the local population. 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 this expansion. French syndicalist and peasant activist José Bové
José Bové
Joseph 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 Vasto
Lanza del Vasto
Lanza del Vasto, , was a philosopher, poet, artist, catholic 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 in the movement.
Following ten years of nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance is the practice of achieving goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, and other methods, without using violence. It is largely synonymous with civil resistance...
, the plan was cancelled by President François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
after his election in 1981.
Because of its history it was chosen as the site of a massive meeting against the World Trade Organization
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
which took place in August 2003. José Bové
José Bové
Joseph 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 TemplarKnights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
and the Knights Hospitaller
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
are located on the Larzac plateau:
- La CavalerieLa CavalerieLa Cavalerie is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
- La CouvertoiradeLa CouvertoiradeLa 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, part of the Saint-Jean-et-Saint-PaulSaint-Jean-et-Saint-PaulSaint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
commune - Sainte-Eulalie-de-CernonSainte-Eulalie-de-CernonSainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
- Viala-du-Pas-de-JauxViala-du-Pas-de-JauxViala-du-Pas-de-Jaux is a commune in the Aveyron department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France.-Population:-References:*...