The major fires in Gironde and then those recently in the Hérault which have led the authorities to restrict travel through preventive measures in certain massifs such as in that of the Gardiole seriously jeopardize our natural heritage and lead us once again to question ourselves on our own responsibilities.
Exchanges and reflections on this subject with Luc Routier, president and creator of the Association for the Protection of the Abbey of Saint-Félix-de-Montceau since 1970.
What is your reaction to these major fires that are destroying our natural spaces and threatening our cultural places?
Seeing all these fires in Gironde and Hérault, I am flabbergasted and angry. I had thus written about thirty years ago on the plantation of pines in the Gardiole massif. We know that each pine is a match, and that nothing grows underneath and that it kills the scrubland. Only, we planted only conifers in the 70s by devastating the whole north side of the Gardiole with a backhoe loader and eliminating everything that could be archaeological / Neolithic. Also, some pines have been planted so close together that they choke and die. The services of the agglomeration of Sète also often cut it.
Is the Abbey threatened in the event of a fire?
In the Middle Ages, there were no firefighters to put out fires, but they were smarter than us. To avoid giant fires, they planted many vines, and later oaks and fruit trees. If the fire broke out, it would stop on its own, for lack of ammunition. If a fire breaks out in the Gardiole, everything goes up in flames!
“We know that every pin is a match”
The Abbey is suffocated by the planting of resinous trees, and it would be desirable to cut them down! Just look at the photos from the 30s and the other from 1917 with the vines (see above). Our association has enlarged the north platform in the event of a fire: the flames will not be able to access it.
Are the events planned at the Abbey impacted by all these events and restrictions?
Yes indeed. We had to cancel the concertEden Projectt which was to take place on Saturday July 30 at the Abbey and we have postponed it to October 2. The next concert at the Abbey will take place – if all goes well – on August 27 with Claude Brame. As part of the European Heritage Days in September, several activities will be held at the Abbey on Sunday, September 18, including a conference led by me, an exhibition of old photos and book signing sessions on the Abbey.
Midi Libre correspondent: 07 89 22 84 18
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