La Couvertoirade
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
Commune of La Couvertoirade |
|
| Location | |
  |
|
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Midi-Pyrénées |
| Department | Aveyron |
| Arrondissement | Millau |
| Canton | Nant |
| Mayor | Marie José Laborie (2001-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 640 m–900 m (avg. 800 m) |
| Land area¹ | 61.91 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
153 |
| - Density | 2/km² (1999) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 12082/ 12230 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
 |
|
La Couvertoirade is a commune in the Aveyron département in southern France.
[edit] Geography
La Couvertoirade is located on the Larzac plateau.
[edit] 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 12th century. The Templars built the fortress there during the 12th and 13th centuries; its two upper floors have since been removed. Following their dissolution in 1312, the Templars' property in the causses was taken by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem who were responsible for building the curtain wall at La Couvertoirade in about 1450.
Like other Larzac villages, the population fell rapidly in the 19th century, to as few as 362 by 1880. Today, it is largely inhabited by craftsmen working with enamel, pottery, weaving and similar crafts.
 La Couvertoirade walls |
 La Couvertoirade walls |
[edit] External links
- Tourist office website
- Pictures of the Knights Templar Castle: [1], [2]
 |
This Aveyron geographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
![[1]](http://www.cathares.org/N34-1409-la-couvertoirade.jpg){kind=link}
![[2]](http://www.ardechephotos.com/tours-chateaux/126_entre%20couvertoirade..jpg){kind=link}