Lavelanet is a small textile town in the foothills of the Pyrenees – within sight of Montsegur, one of the Cathar Castles in the Ariege. In 1244 over 200 people were massacred after being persuaded to give up their siege in the castle. They had been sheltering from the French Army and the Catholics from Rome.
You will not be surprised to know that the textile industry is shrinking and moving to eastern Europe and elsewhere. We are on the edge of the town and the first thing I pass as I walk in for bread and croissants is a textile factory at the end of our road. In the time we have had our house here the fences outside the factory have twice been draped with banners protesting about the loss of jobs and the moving of product to other places. The most recent was earlier this year and the factory seems much quieter now. There are still a few cars outside and people in the offices but I suspect that there is very little production now going on.
In the Ariege generally, tourism is being heavily promoted to fill the gap. We will see if the gap left by manufacturing can be adequately filled in such a way.
As I continue my walk into town I can look down on the river and at what appears to be an old mill – there is still some activity but it is hard to determine exactly what goes on. A field on the right currently houses seven donkeys – of various sizes and ages!
A few metres further on the left is the Club Avelana (an old Occitan name for the area, I think) outside which there is well used boules arena.
We then come to the first bar on the right and another view of the river on the left. The river flows fairly fast over a stony bed but it could do with much more water. The liquid in the bar over the road probably flows as fast. There are trout in the river and, of course, the dipper is often seen there. I think I may have been watching a red breasted flycatcher the other day although my book tells me that it may not be widespread in this area.
The town (and many boulangeries) are just around the corner.
Nice to see a dipper in Lavelanet! (Hope the links work!)
ReplyDeleteIs a shame about the textile factories shrinking. Rips the heart out of the community because it's difficult to move into an area (or you may be forced to move away from it) if there are fewer opportunites to earn money.