Celles, Hérault
Celles | |
|---|---|
 Celles | |
Location of Celles | |
  Celles Location within France  Celles Location within Occitanie | |
| Coordinates: 43°39′41″N 03°20′27″E / 43.66139°N 3.34083°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Hérault |
| Arrondissement | Lodève |
| Canton | Lodève |
| Intercommunality | Lodévois et Larzac |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2026–32) | Tom Brière[1][2] |
Area 1 | 7.56 km2 (2.92 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[3] | 26 |
| • Density | 3.4/km2 (8.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 34072 /34700 |
| Elevation | 89–350 m (292–1,148 ft) (avg. 100 m or 330 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Celles (French pronunciation: [sɛl] ⓘ; Occitan: Cèlas) is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.
History
_-_Stone_house_01.jpg)
The village sits on the bank of Lake Salagou. When the dam that created the lake was built (1964–68), the intention was to raise the water level in two stages—first to 139m, then to 150m. The second stage would have engulfed the village of Celles, which is at a mean altitude of 144m, and accordingly the village and its vineyards were officially abandoned. The first stage of water level left the water lapping at the foot of the village without encroaching on any structures. The second stage was never implemented, so a few villagers re-occupied the Mairie, repairing public buildings in order that the status of Celles as a commune would be preserved. However, the French authorities allowed the village to decay and all buildings except the Mairie and the church went to ruin and vandalism, the roof tiles steadily disappearing. It became a popular place for fishing and picnics.
In 1990, the city council, hoping to "move" the department to revitalize the village, called on the general council, owner of the ruins, to secure them in the name of public safety. The expected result - the restoration of the houses - actually led to a crystallization action of the village, with a concreting of the ridges and laying fences around the houses. It was not until 1996 that the department took the official decision to permanently maintain the rating 139. From the beginning, some of the former inhabitants fought to maintain the status of commune in Celles, and regularly maintained and renovated communal buildings, not expropriable
Repopulation
In September 2017 a scheme was announced for the repopulation of Celles. The village was partially rebuilt and reconnected to the water and electricity systems,[4] In the years 2020 a more comprehensivee repopulation plan was approved. French citizens were allowed to occupy structures in the village at no cost provided that they did their own repairs and planned to work in the village. The permits were for 35 years but the new inhabitants will never actually own the property. By 2023 the official population had increased to 26 from a low of five in 1975.[5]
Specific safeguards against overtourism were enforced. For example, there can never be a hotel or gite in the village.
The commune is also home to the chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Clans. Built from local stone, the chapel contains elements dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. It has a single nave and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Although normally closed to the public, it remains a pilgrimage site where an annual Mass and procession are held on the Feast of the Assumption.[6][7]
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 29 | — |
| 1975 | 5 | −22.21% |
| 1982 | 10 | +10.41% |
| 1990 | 14 | +4.30% |
| 1999 | 20 | +4.04% |
| 2007 | 26 | +3.33% |
| 2012 | 29 | +2.21% |
| 2017 | 32 | +1.99% |
| 2023 | 26 | −3.40% |
| Source: INSEE[8] | ||
Politics and administration
_mairie.JPG)
_les_Vailhes.JPG)
| Election | Mayor | Party | Occupation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Henri Goudal | SE | ||
| 1977 | ||||
| 1983 | ||||
| 1989 | ||||
| 1995 | Joëlle Goudal | SE | Trader | |
| 2001 | ||||
| 2008 | ||||
| 2014 | ||||
| 2020[9] | ||||
| 2026[1] | Tom Brière | DVG | Sailing and kayaking instructor | |
Cinema
The ruined village has served as a backdrop for several feature film scenes, notably the 1986 thriller Zone rouge (Red Zone).
See also
Further reading
- Sam Harrison. "How to Make Sense of an Undrowned Town." Atlas Obscura, January 20, 2020.
References
- 1 2 Mendez, Alain (3 April 2026). "Celles : Joëlle Goudal remet son écharpe de maire à son jeune successeur, Tom Brière". Midi Libre (in French). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 5 May 2026.
- ↑ "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
- ↑ "Celles, le village sauvé des eaux du Salagou, va renaitre" France Bleu Hérault 28 September 2017. Retrieved Sept. 2017
- ↑ Lavocat, Lorène; Richard, David (8 February 2026). "Celles, ce village qui renaît sans propriété privée". Reporterre.net (in French). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Le tour du lac du Salagou à pied". Hérault Tourisme (in French). Tourism Development Agency of the Departmental Council of Hérault. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
- ↑ Brahiti, Louise (8 November 2025). "Notre-Dame des Clans, la chapelle de l'orage veille toujours sur la terre rouge". Hérault Tribune (in French). Retrieved 3 August 2026.
- ↑ Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023, INSEE
- ↑ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
