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The Larzac
The Larzac, is a large and rugged plateau of a thousand square kilometers, and its rockiness, and apparently limitless horizon, makes it totally different from the nearby Mediterranean plain.
It rises to just over 900 meters above sea level, and is a land of freezing winters, and dry hot summers. It is overrun by flocks of ewes, from which, the milk is used to make the world famous Roquefort cheese.
In the spring, dry heaths provide a colorful picture for the visitor. Small multi-colored flowers peek out from cracks in the rocks of the dolomitic terrain. The fragrance of wild thyme, and lavender draws bees to the Larzac, and the manufacture of honey forms part of a big cottage industry.
This is an area that the military wanted to take as a training ground. Started by a few locals, the demonstrations to keep this beautiful area of France grew to be a national event, that has kept the Larzac for all to enjoy. Many interesting natural sites, and villages can be found within its borders.
The entrance to the Larzac from the north, is through the picturesque town of Millau. Famous for its leather glove manufacturing, and its traffic jams, during the summer months. On the 17th December 2004, the new motorway bridge opened, and many people breathed a sigh of relief. This bridge designed by the
English, Lord Foster, has become one of the architectural wonders of France. At 2.5 kilometers in length and reaching a height of 343 meters at its
highest point, it is spectacular.
Accueil -
Office de Tourisme du Larzac
Millau and it's bridge
La Couvertoirade is a walled village, hidden away in the barren lands of the Larzac,
near to the small village of La Caylar. Its towers and ramparts are almost intact.
It was founded by the Knights Templars in the 12th century.
In 1159, just after the first crusade, the Count of Barcelona, King of Aragon turned over his possessions in
the Larzac to Élie de Montbrun, the Temple master of Rouergue. The Templars, a religious military order, would henceforth protect these new lands, build strongholds, and make them prosper. They turned out to be excellent administrators, and developed agriculture and sheep raising, as can be seen from many of the "granges", the former Templar farms, that still dot the countryside.
When the Templars order was suppressed in the 14th century, their property was transferred to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, who further enlarged, and strengthened them.
La Couvertoirade
... Un des plus beaux villages de France
La Caylar
Is a small village famous for it's carved tree, but now
rejuvenated by the large Motorway service area with various
tourist shops nearby. It contains lots of surprises in
its interesting mediaeval streets.
le caylar, larzac, hauts cantons de l'herault
Roquefort
Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, a small village on the edge of the Larzac,
produces probably, the
most famous cheese that is exported throughout the world. This blue
cheese made from Ewe's milk, is produced in cool natural caves in the
village. The blue-green veins are spores of microscopic mushrooms (penicillium
roqueforti).
History has it, that, two shepherds discovered it accidentally. Whilst
out tending their flocks they were in the habit of taking bread, and
cheese for their meal, and not having finished it all on one day, they
left it wrapped in muslin in a cave. Some days later they were in that
same area, and because of hunger, decided to search for the food, only
to discover that the cheese had started to turn ‘blue’. This had been
caused by mould on the bread transferring to the cheese. Hunger overcame
their initial reaction not to eat the cheese, and to their amazement
discovered that the cheese tasted better than when it was fresh. The
mould that gives Roquefort its distinctive character is found naturally
in the local caves. Traditionally the cheese makers encouraged its
formation by leaving bread in the caves for six to eight weeks until it
was consumed by the mould.
Cheese has been made in this fashion since that time, and now, bakers in
the area bake giant sized loafs of bread especially to be left in the
natural caves where the cheese is produced. The bread begins to mould,
and the natural bacilli then invades the cheese to form the now famous,
and well-loved cheese called Roquefort.
The cheese is white, crumbly and slightly moist, with veins of blue
mould. It has no rind. It has a characteristic salty flavour with the
blue veins providing a sharp tang.
Each kilo of finished cheese requires about 4.5 litres of milk.
Roquefort is made from the milk of sheep, throughout the départements of
Aveyron Lozère, Gard, Hérault and Tarn.
There are seven Roquefort producers. The largest by far is Roquefort
Société, and opens its facilities for tourists to visit. Roquefort
Papillon is also a well-known brand.
ROQUEFORT: TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE
Cirque de Navacelles
The Cirque de Navacelles is one of the most remarkable natural sites in the Languedoc. It takes the form of a vast
'crater', with precipitous sides. At the bottom of the 'crater' lies the village of Navacelles, some 350meters below the rim.
It can be found on the edge of the Plateau of the Larzac, and at the beginning of the Gorge of the River Vis. It was a centre of French Resistance during the war because of its inaccessibility.
In fact it is not a crater but a gorge formed by water
errosion.
Cirque de Navacelles - Vallée de l'Hérault - Office de
Tourisme
Mont Aigoual
Mont Aigoual lies east of the Cirque du Navacelles, and comes as a surprise, because of its remoteness and the scenery.
The mountain top has a panoramique view of the midi, and along the coast as far as the Pyrenees, It is the second highest point in the Cevennes, and here, can be found the Meteorological Observatory, that provides the weather reports for this part of France.
During the winter months it is normal to have snow, and often the staff of the observatory are unable to exit for days on end. It is possible to visit the observatory where there are many interesting exhibits relating to the weather in this region. The surrounding villages resemble alpine villages. There are ski lifts for those wanting to ski, and numerous restaurants.
The observation logs have been kept since 1st
December 1894, by the first resident at the observatory.
During 1897, the French Alpine Club, built a wooden refuge
attached to the ground by four chains at the North end.
Tourists were starting to visit the Observatory, there were
1250 in 1898, which was a very respectable number, since they
must have all come up on foot or by horse and trap. Later
the Observatory was closed to tourists for lack of
personnel.
With good roads, and the mass of private cars, the number of
tourists coming to admire the view never stopped growing.
The Observatory today
The Aigoual Observatory is the last mountain meteorological
station still active in France. It is an efficient station
with a modern range of instruments to measure under extreme conditions, while the exhibition at
the meteorological museum attracts more than 150 000 people
a year.
Two complementary organisations share the Observatory, the Météo France staff, with the same scientific work as any
other weather station, and the A.A.A. staff who keep the
exhibition running.
The Association of the Friends of Aigoual (A.A.A.) was formed in 1988 to protect, and promote the
Observatory. Sales of the publication "Meteorology from A to
Z" financed the upkeep of the building, and a start on
extending the exhibition.
Exhibition - The Meteorological
Museum, uniting extraordinary scenic beauty with extreme weather
conditions, Météo France and the Communauté de communes of
Aigoual, invite you, to this exhibition.
The first part of the exhibition is an introduction to the
work of Météo France, making observations, forecasting and
the science of climatology. The meteorologists are available
to talk about their work, and answer your questions. Many
graphic displays, photographs, items of equipment, and a
model explaining daily weather observation in 170
international centres, explain the techniques used by
meteorologists.
You can also see clouds evolving through satellite pictures,
and discover the instruments in use, maps, climate
statistics and different meteorological phenomena.
The second part, is devoted to Mont Aigoual, and its climate
over the seasons. You will be entranced by 800 images of
Mont Aigoual in spring, summer, autumn and winter, as well
as video, and big screen, slide presentation evoking
living, and working conditions at the Observatory...
The final part of the exhibition in the Observatory cellars,
shows various measuring instruments from the late nineteenth
century, to the present, and the weather records stretching
back to the start of the twentieth century. There is an
extensive range of photographs about the reforestation of Aigoual, and three-dimensional scale models
demonstrating the
commonest atmospheric disturbances, and the water cycle.
The visit concludes with the shop, where you can buy
explanatory texts, measuring instruments, computer
soft-wear, posters and post cards. Any purchase will help
the exhibition.
Opening Hours : 1st May - 30th September from 10a.m. until
1p.m. and 2p.m. until 6p.m.
July and August, continuous from 10a.m. until 7p.m.
Rest of the year, open for groups by reservation
Admission Free
aigoual.fr
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