- Larzac
The Causse du Larzac is a
limestone karst plateau in the south of theMassif Central ,France , situated betweenMillau (Aveyron ) andLodève (Hérault ). It is an agricultural area, where sheep are bred to produce milk forRoquefort cheese .Geography
The communes of the Larzac are:
*Cornus
*Creissels
*La Cavalerie
*La Couvertoirade
*La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite
*L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac
*Le Caylar
*Le Cros
*Les Rives
*Millau
*Nant
*Saint-Félix-de-l'Héras
*Saint-Georges-de-Luzençon
*Saint-Maurice-Navacelles
*Saint-Michel-d'Alajou
*Saint-Pierre-de-la-Fage
*Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon
*Sorbs
*La Vacquerie-et-Saint-Martin-de-Castries
*Vissec History
In October 1970, National Defense Minister
Michel Debré decided, without consulting the local population, to turn a military camp of 30 km² outside the village of La Cavalerie inAveyron into a much larger (170 km²) and more strategicmilitary base . 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 activistJosé Bové moved there during this period in support of the protests. Communards from the nearby Community of the Ark, led by the pacifistLanza del Vasto , were also very active in opposition to the camp. The workers of the occupied and self-managedLip factory also took part to the movement ( [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jean-paul-margnac/sets/72157594436265379/ photos] ).Following ten years of
nonviolent resistance , the plan was cancelled by presidentFrançois Mitterrand after his election in 1981.Because of its history it was chosen as the site of a massive meeting against the
World Trade Organization which took place in August 2003. [http://www.monde-solidaire.org/larzac-2003/uk/]José Bové currently resides in Larzac - he secured nearly 500,000 votes in the 2007 presidential elections.ights
Five medieval fortified villages, related to the
Knights Templar and theKnights Hospitaller are located on the Larzac plateau:
*La Cavalerie
*La Couvertoirade
* Saint-Jean-d'Alcas [http://www.aveyron.com/english/tourism/templar-alcas.html] , part of theSaint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul commune
*Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon
*Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux
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