Bugarach Explained

Bugarach
Native Name:Burgarag
Commune Status:Commune
Image Coat Of Arms:Blason ville fr Bugarach (Aude).svg
Arrondissement:Limoux
Canton:La Haute-Vallée de l'Aude
Insee:11055
Postal Code:11190
Mayor:Jean-Pierre Delord[1]
Term:2020 - 2026
Coordinates:42.8781°N 2.3519°W
Elevation M:427
Elevation Min M:340
Elevation Max M:1231
Area Km2:26.62

Bugarach (in French pronounced as /byɡaʁaʃ/; Occitan (post 1500);: Bugarag[2]) 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 1230m (4,040feet) mountain peak and the highest summit in the Corbières 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 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;[3] it derives from the name "Bugari" of the Bulgarian Bogomilis in medieval France.[4] 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.[5]

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 forecast 2012 apocalypse.[6] [7] [8]

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.[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] 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.[14] [15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Répertoire national des élus: les maires. data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 2 December 2020. fr.
  2. Web site: Josiana Ubaud, Montanhas nòstras . 2012-12-21 . 2013-04-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130425054428/http://josiane.ubaud.pagesperso-orange.fr/Montanhas%20nostras.pdf . dead .
  3. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieux en France, Ch. Rostaing 1963
  4. Lionel Fanthrope, Patricia Fanthrope, Mysteries of Templar, Treasure & the Holy Grail: The Secrets of Rennes Le Chatea Weiser Books, 2004, ISBN 157863315X, p. 68.
  5. http://www.lindependant.fr/2011/06/05/la-fin-du-monde-fait-boum-sur-l-immobilier,26609.php The end of the world is ... real estate boom
  6. News: French village which will 'survive 2012 Armageddon' plagued by visitors . The Telegraph . Paris . Henry Samuel . 2010-12-21 . 2010-12-21 . London.
  7. News: Varley. Emmy. The Apocalypse December 31, 2012? There is a refuge in the Aude. AFP. February 18, 2014. December 15, 2010. October 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20140218222748/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hUv_9LtS-omarqihXa8KThj2Ws5A?docId=CNG.fb277e68a27bd47ffd98472041b5d8fe.381&hl=fr. fr.
  8. Cyril Hofstein, Bugarach, the village of the end times,Le Figaro, February 18, 2011
  9. Web site: Pfeiffer. Eric. Pic de Bugarach: French commune home to 20,000 'doomsday cultists' awaiting alien salvation. Yahoo. 25 May 2012.
  10. News: Pickup. Oliver. Hippies head for Noah's Ark: Queue here for rescue aboard alien spaceship. 25 May 2012. The Independent. 25 March 2012. London.
  11. News: Apocalypse 2012: France's Bugarach Peak Draws Believers Who Await Alien Rescuers. 25 May 2012 . Huffington Post. Jocelyn. Richard. 26 March 2012.
  12. News: Bockman. Chris. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9531861.stm. BBC. BBC. 25 May 2012. 8 July 2011.
  13. News: NÉGRONI. ANGÉLIQUE. July 05, 2011. 25 May 2012. Time. July 5, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120523142242/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2080816,00.html. 23 May 2012. dead.
  14. News: French village bemused by Apocalyptic strangers . . Nicolas . Fichot . 2011-06-27 . 2011-06-29 . 2011-07-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726181234/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/27/uk-france-apocalypse-bugarach-idUSLNE75Q02D20110627 . live .
  15. News: French village seen at threat from Apocalypse sects . . Vicky . Buffery . 2011-06-15 . 2011-06-29 . 2011-06-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110619221459/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/16/uk-france-sects-idUSLNE75F03X20110616 . live .

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