Celles, Hérault

Celles (Occitan: Cèlas) is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.

Celles
Commune
Celles
Location of Celles
Celles Celles
Coordinates: 43°39′41″N 3°20′27″E
Country	France
Region	Occitanie
Department	Hérault
Arrondissement	Lodève
Canton	Lodève
Intercommunality	Lodévois et Larzac
Government
• Mayor (2014–2020)	Joëlle Goudal
Area ^1	7.56 km^2 (2.92 sq mi)
Population  (Jan. 2017)[1]	32
• Density	4.2/km^2 (11/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 km^2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

Julian calendar. Leudaire of the jurisdiction of Clermont

The village sits on the bank of Lac du 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 are allowing the village to decay and all buildings except the Mairie and the church are in ruins. It is 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

The ruined village has served as a backdrop for several feature film scenes, notably the 1985 thriller Zone Rouge (Red Zone).

Possible repopulation

In September 2017 a scheme was announced for the repopulation of Celles. The village will be partially rebuilt, connected to the water and telephone systems, and 119 people will move in in time for the 50th anniversary of the abandonment, September 2019.[2]

Map

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1793	116	—
1866	111	−4.3%
1901	83	−25.2%
1906	85	+2.4%
1911	102	+20.0%
1926	77	−24.5%
1936	64	−16.9%
1954	63	−1.6%
1962	50	−20.6%
1968	29	−42.0%
1975	5	−82.8%
1982	10	+100.0%
1990	14	+40.0%
1999	20	+42.9%
2004	25	+25.0%
2009	22	−12.0%
2014	35	+59.1%
2016	35	+0.0%

Politics and administration

Town hall of Celles

Election		Mayor	Party	Occupation
	1971	Henri Goudal	SE
	1977
	1983
	1989
	1995	Joëlle Goudal	SE	Trader
	2001
	2008
	2014

See also

• Communes of the Hérault department

Further reading

• Sam Harrison. "How to Make Sense of an Undrowned Town." Atlas Obscura, January 20, 2020.

References

1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
2. Celles, le village sauvé des eaux du Salagou, va renaître --France Bleu Hérault, 28 September 2017