"TERRACED LANDSCAPES"

Authors: Régis Ambroise, Pierre Frapa, Sébastien Giorgis.

Edition: Edisud, 1993

Description :
Slopes have been transformed into terraces in the Cévennes, in Provence, in Corsica, in the countryside around Nice, the Ardèche and to the north in the Rhone valley, in Alsace and in the Jura… Just a century ago these regions, particularly the mountains in southern France, were surprisingly heavily populated.
This book is intended as a tribute to the work of those farmers who transformed an often hostile nature into enormous cultivated gardens. Strangely, terraced landscapes have suffered in France from a sort of collective blindness whilst in other countries (China, Italy,…) they are seen as cultural references and are often represented in paintings and photography. Here they have been forgotten and fallen victim to a modernistic view of agriculture. Yet quietly, but not without effort, various innovators, farmers, communities, organisations, and land owners have recreated a future for the terraces by developing a global project aiming for high quality : in terms of produce, welcome, environment and quality of life. Agriculturalists, farmers and elected representatives will find in “Terraced Landscapes” a wealth of technical information and reports on experiments that will be useful in carrying out their duties.
This book is aimed at all those who appreciate landscape, artists, geographers, historians and those who live on these rich and complex sites or love to explore them. The text is complemented by the photographs by Vincent Motte and Raymond Sauvaire as well as the drawings of the geographer Pierre Deffontaines and a varied iconography, providing the keys for understanding these landscapes.
“Terraced Landscapes” contributes to current thought about the future of our farming culture, whether rural or urban. Considering the changes brought about by the evolution of techniques and activities and by the depopulation of our countryside, it may be time to invent a new harmony between agriculture, environment, aesthetics and a certain “art of living”.

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"LE GUIDE DES AIGUIERS
DU PAYS DE SAULT ET DES MONTS DE VAUCLUSE"

A guide to the traditional water wisdom of the Aiguiers of Sault and the Hills of Vaucluse.

Author: Florence Dominique (APARE)

Available: 2001

Description: "Le Guide des Aiguiers" leads the reader through a fascinating encounter in the heart of one of the most mysterious corners of the Vaucluse hills, a surprising, little known land. Discovering the ancient water wisdom of the aiguiers, that “original farming art” to use the expression coined by Pierre Martel, is an adventure on the trail of the lost civilisation of dry stones and opens up the door for a geographical, geological, ethnological and historical exploration of this Provençal sanctuary.
We offer the keys of understanding to whoever accepts to be guided along the routes that we suggest. You will not be able to remain indifferent to these discoveries. You will be overcome by the genius of these places and you will marvel at the impression of being one of the last witnesses to a bygone era when the slightest trickle of water was of major interest to humans.

Distribution: On sale in tourist offices and bookshops in the region of Sault and the hills of the Vaucluse.

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"A LA DÉCOUVERTE DES PAYSAGES AGRICOLES
DE L'ARC COMTADIN"

Auteur : Mireille Gravier (CME)

Edition : un guide de dŽcouverte de 96 pages publiŽ en partenariat avec Edisud

Parution : octobre 2002

Description : Le paysan comtadin tr�s t™t a su jouer avec la duretŽ du milieu : lÕariditŽ estivale, les crues dŽvastatrices et le Mistral qui souffle pr�s de 130 jours par an. L'Žlaboration des paysages que nous avons aujourd'hui sous les yeux est le long et lent rŽsultat de la relation des paysans avec leurs terres. Avec la diminution du nombre d'agriculteurs et les mutations profondes au sein du monde agricole depuis deux dŽcennies, les paysages connaissent actuellement des bouleversements rapides, boisement, une multiplication des espaces b‰tis... La premi�re partie du guide vous am�ne ˆ la dŽcouverte de lÕhistoire des paysages. La seconde aborde dÕeux cas prŽcis sur les territoires de Pernes les fontaines et de Caromb. La troisi�me est un guide de balades pour vous faire dŽcouvrir les terroirs et les paysages de lÕArc Comtadins.

Distribution : Edisud/Libraries.

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