La Couvertoirade

La Couvertoirade

A general view of La Couvertoirade
La Couvertoirade

Coordinates: 43°54′50″N 3°19′02″E / 43.9139°N 3.3172°E / 43.9139; 3.3172Coordinates: 43°54′50″N 3°19′02″E / 43.9139°N 3.3172°E / 43.9139; 3.3172
Country France
Region Occitanie
Department Aveyron
Arrondissement Millau
Canton Nant
Government
  Mayor (20082014) Marie José Laborie
Area1 61.91 km2 (23.90 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 179
  Density 2.9/km2 (7.5/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 12082 / 12230
Elevation 640–900 m (2,100–2,950 ft)
(avg. 800 m or 2,600 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

La Couvertoirade is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.

Geography

La Couvertoirade is located on the Larzac plateau.

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 twelfth 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 between 1439 and 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.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
196298    
1968120+22.4%
1975107−10.8%
1982134+25.2%
1990148+10.4%
1999153+3.4%
2008179+17.0%

See also

References

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