Bugarach
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Bugarach Burgarag |
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Country | France | |
Region | Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées | |
Department | Aude | |
Arrondissement | Limoux | |
Canton | Couiza | |
Intercommunality | Pays de Couiza | |
Government | ||
• Mayor (2008–2014) | Jean-Pierre Delord | |
Area1 | 26.62 km2 (10.28 sq mi) | |
Population (2011)2 | 200 | |
• Density | 7.5/km2 (19/sq mi) | |
INSEE/Postal code | 11055 / 11190 | |
Elevation | 340–1,231 m (1,115–4,039 ft) (avg. 427 m or 1,401 ft) |
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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. |
Bugarach (French pronunciation: [byɡaʁaʃ]; Burgarag in Occitan[1]) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France, around 35 km south of Carcassonne. The economy is based on agriculture and tourism, attracting many New Age adherents.
Geography
Bugarach is at the foot of Pic de Bugarach, a 1,230 metres (4,040 ft) mountain peak and the highest summit in the Corbières mountains. 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 the Pyrenees.
It is also located on the Green Meridian.
History
The location is mentioned for the first time as Villa Burgaragio in 889 AD;[2] it derives from the German name Burghar and name "Bugari" of the Bulgarian Bogomilis in medieval France.[citation needed] 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
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.[3]
Population
Historical population | ||
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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% |
Cult settlements
In the 1960s and 70s Pic de Bugarach became popular with the hippie movement. Later in the 20th century it became popular with New Age followers who believed the "upside down mountain" had mystical powers, spreading to the belief that the village would be spared in the 2012 apocalypse.[4][5][6]
Cult followers believe aliens reside inside the mountain and will spare any humans that decide to leave the planet with them in the coming apocalypse.[7][8][9][10][11] 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.[12][13]
See also
References
- ↑ Josiana Ubaud, Montanhas nòstras
- ↑ Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieux en France, Ch. Rostaing 1963
- ↑ The end of the world is ... real estate boom, The Independent, 24 May 2011
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Emmy Varley, The Apocalypse December 31, 2012? There is a refuge in the Aude, AFP, December 15, 2010
- ↑ Cyril Hofstein, Bugarach, the village of the end times,Le Figaro, February 18, 2011
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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