La Couvertoirade

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Commune of La Couvertoirade
Location
Longitude	03° 19' 02" E
Latitude	43° 54' 50" N
Administration
Country	France
Region	Midi-Pyrénées
Department	Aveyron
Arrondissement	Millau
Canton	Nant
Mayor	Marie José Laborie (2001-2008)
Statistics
Altitude	640 m–900 m (avg. 800 m)
Land area¹	61.91 km²
Population² (1999)	153
- Density (1999)	2/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	12082/ 12230
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 mi² or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel).

La Couvertoirade is a village and commune in the Aveyron département, in southern France. Population (1999): 153 (Couvertoiradois).

[edit] Geography

La Couvertoirade is located on the Larzac plateau.

[edit] History and sites of interest

This well-preserved fortified town was owned by the Knights Templar, under orders from the Commandery of Sainte-Eulalie, from the 12th century. The Templars built the fortress there during the 12th and 13th centuries; its two upper floors have since been removed. Following their dissolution in 1312, the Templars' property in the causses was taken by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem who were responsible for building the curtain wall at La Couvertoirade in about 1450.

Like other Larzac villages, the population fell rapidly in the 19th century, to as few as 362 by 1880. Today, it is largely inhabited by craftsmen working with enamel, pottery, weaving and similar crafts.

[edit] External links

• Tourist office website
• Pictures of the Knights Templar Castle: [1], [2]