Fighting for a place in the sun: what French mountain villages look like on eaves

From school geography lessons, we remember that there is an altitudinal zonation and the temperature decreases as you go up. Based on this theory, it should be assumed that it is more profitable to settle in intermountain valleys, where it is warmer.

But in practice we see that in the Pyrenees villages, like swallow nests, are molded to the southern slopes of the mountains, sometimes climbing almost to their tops. Why do people still live in such hard-to-reach places, making their way home along steep serpentines?

The secret was revealed to me when I visited the valley of the river Vicdessus, in the Pyrenees. In fairness, it should be noted that along the banks of the stream, below, there are also villages. But most of them are concentrated on the southern slopes of the ridges, while the northern ones are occupied by forest.

It was explained to me that such places are called "promises", and that a fierce struggle had been fought for them since ancient times. Souk and Centenac, Gulbier and Lapezh, Zhenat and Rabat - these villages are still inhabited, despite the fact that it takes a long time to descend to urban civilization along a steep and winding road. Why do people choose to live so high? This became clear to me when I (after an hour of difficult walking) reached Lapiez.

The altitudinal zonation theory is just a theory. In practice, the sun rises over Lapézhe early, when the entire valley is still in darkness. Yes, and the luminary comes later than below. The whole village seems to be sunbathing all day, and its stone houses are heated by the sun's rays.

Therefore, in Lapezha and similar villages on mountain cornices it is so warm that you can grow peaches, figs and other southern fruits. The top of the mountain protects the villages from the north winds.

Lapège is famous for its traditional Pyrenean houses. People lived on the ground floor (and there were sheep in the annex), and upstairs, using the sun and good ventilation by the wind, people made a hayloft.

The high location of the houses allows the air to remain fresh, and you don't feel stuffy here. And what amazing views from the village! During turbulent times, this arrangement gave residents the opportunity to see the approach of the enemy and prepare for defense. And now the inhabitants simply admire the scenery from their open verandas.

I did not regret in the least that I got to Lapiezh. I confess - I would like to settle in one of these villages on the "promising". And you?

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