Bugarach
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Bugarach
Burgarag | |
|---|---|
 A general view of Bugarach | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Bugarach  | |
  Bugarach  Bugarach | |
| Coordinates:42°52′41″N2°21′07″E/ 42.8781°N 2.3519°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Aude |
| Arrondissement | Limoux |
| Canton | La Haute-Vallée de l'Aude |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–2026) | Jean-Pierre Delord[1] |
| Area 1 | 26.62 km2(10.28 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 240 |
| • Density | 9.0/km2(23/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00(CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 11055/11190 |
| Elevation | 340–1,231 m (1,115–4,039 ft) (avg. 427 m or 1,401 ft) |
| 1French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2(0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Bugarach(French pronunciation:[byɡaʁaʃ];Occitan:Bugarag[3]) is acommunein theAudedepartmentin southernFrance,around 35 km south ofCarcassonne.The economy is based on agriculture and tourism, attracting manyNew Ageadherents.
Geography
[edit]Bugarach is at the foot ofPic de Bugarach,a 1,230 metres (4,040 ft) mountain peak and the highest summit in theCorbières Massif.The peak is also called the "upside down mountain" as the top layers of rock are older than the lower layers due to uplift of thePyrenees.
It is also located on theGreen Meridian.
History
[edit]
The location is mentioned for the first time asVilla Burgaragioin 889 AD;[4]it derives from the name "Bugari" of theBulgarianBogomilisin medieval France.[5]In the 18th century the village became known for manufacturing wooden tools and hats. In modern times many esoteric and UFO legends have been connected to this place.
Economy
[edit]The major economic activity of the village and surrounding region is agriculture and tourism. Demand for holiday cottages and popularity with New Age followers led to a rise in real estate prices.[6]
Cult settlements
[edit]In the 1960s and 70sPic de Bugarachbecame popular with thehippiemovement. Later in the 20th century it became popular withNew Agefollowers who believed the "upside down mountain" had mystical powers, spreading to the belief that the village would be spared in the forecast2012 apocalypse.[7][8][9]
Cult followers believed aliens resided inside the mountain and would spare any humans that decide to leave the planet with them in the coming apocalypse.[10][11][12][13][14]In 2011, the number of visitors doubled to over 20,000 and France's cult watchdog,Miviludes,placed the village under scrutiny due to concern over possible mass suicides. The mayor even considered calling the army over concerns caused by this issue.[15][16]
Population
[edit]| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 111 | — |
| 1968 | 156 | +40.5% |
| 1975 | 125 | −19.9% |
| 1982 | 144 | +15.2% |
| 1990 | 153 | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 176 | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 193 | +9.7% |
| 2011 | 200 | +3.6% |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Répertoire national des élus: les maires".data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises(in French). 2 December 2020.
- ^"Populations légales 2021"(in French).The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.28 December 2023.
- ^"Josiana Ubaud,Montanhas nòstras"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 April 2013.Retrieved21 December2012.
- ^Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieux en France, Ch. Rostaing 1963
- ^Lionel Fanthrope, Patricia Fanthrope, Mysteries of Templar, Treasure & the Holy Grail: The Secrets of Rennes Le Chatea Weiser Books, 2004, ISBN 157863315X, p. 68.
- ^The end of the world is... real estate boom,The Independent,24 May 2011
- ^Paris, Henry Samuel (21 December 2010)."French village which will 'survive 2012 Armageddon' plagued by visitors".London: The Telegraph.Retrieved21 December2010.
- ^Varley, Emmy (15 December 2010)."The Apocalypse December 31, 2012? There is a refuge in the Aude"(in French). AFP. Archived fromthe originalon 18 February 2014.Retrieved21 October2022.
- ^Cyril Hofstein,Bugarach, the village of the end times,Le Figaro,February 18, 2011
- ^Pfeiffer, Eric."Pic de Bugarach: French commune home to 20,000 'doomsday cultists' awaiting alien salvation".Yahoo.Retrieved25 May2012.
- ^Pickup, Oliver (25 March 2012)."Hippies head for Noah's Ark: Queue here for rescue aboard alien spaceship".The Independent.London.Retrieved25 May2012.
- ^Richard, Jocelyn (26 March 2012)."Apocalypse 2012: France's Bugarach Peak Draws Believers Who Await Alien Rescuers".Huffington Post.Retrieved25 May2012.
- ^Bockman, Chris (8 July 2011)."news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9531861.stm".BBC.BBC.Retrieved25 May2012.
- ^NÉGRONI, ANGÉLIQUE (5 July 2011)."July 05, 2011".Time.Archived fromthe originalon 23 May 2012.Retrieved25 May2012.
- ^Fichot, Nicolas (27 June 2011)."French village bemused by Apocalyptic strangers".Reuters.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2011.Retrieved29 June2011.
- ^Buffery, Vicky (15 June 2011)."French village seen at threat from Apocalypse sects".Reuters.Archivedfrom the original on 19 June 2011.Retrieved29 June2011.
