Larzac

This article is about the plateau in Aveyron, Hérault and Gard. For the commune in Dordogne, see Larzac, Dordogne.

Larzac (French pronunciation: [laʁzak], Occitan: [laɾˈzak]), also known as the Causse of Larzac (French: Causse du Larzac), is a limestone karst plateau in the south of the Massif Central, France, situated between Millau (in the department of Aveyron) and Lodève (in the department of Hérault). It is an agricultural area, where traditionally sheep produce milk for Roquefort cheese. Since the early 2010s, the agricultural production has largely diversified.^[1]

Location of the Massif Central in France

Location of Larzac in the Massif Central

Typical Larzac landscape seen in March 2007

The Cougouille mount, the highest point on the Larzac plateau (912 m/2992 ft above sea level)

Typical Larzac landscape

Dolomitic outcrop on the plateau

Cross on the Larzac plateau between Les Rives and La Bastide des Fonts

Cowslips and various kinds of orchids are widespread on the Larzac area

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

The Larzac is served by junctions 46 to 51 of the A75 autoroute.

History

Main article: Fight for the Larzac

In October 1970, Michel Debré, then Minister of Defence, decided for strategic purposes to expand a military camp outside the village of La Cavalerie in the department of Aveyron, 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 the occupation of empty farms purchased by the Army in anticipation of this expansion. French syndicalist and peasant activist José Bové 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, 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.^[2]

Following ten years of nonviolent resistance, the plan was cancelled by President François Mitterrand after his election in 1981.

Because of its history, the Larzac was chosen as the site of a massive meeting against the WTO which took place in August 2003.^[3] José Bové currently resides in the Larzac area; he secured nearly 500,000 votes in the 2007 presidential election. He became a Member of the European Parliament in 2009.

Sights

Five medieval fortified villages, related to the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller are located on the Larzac plateau:

• La Cavalerie
• La Couvertoirade
• Saint-Jean-d'Alcas,^[4] part of the Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul commune
• Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon
• Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux

References

1. "« On a toujours montré qu’une autre agriculture est possible » : le Larzac, éternel laboratoire paysan", Le Monde (in French), 1 June 2021.
2. Lip Larzac 1973 - photos
3. “The World Is Not For Sale” Gathering on the Larzac against the world trade organization (8-10 August 2003)
4. Saint-Jean-d'Alcas

43°59′21″N 3°11′00″E