- La Couvertoirade
French commune
nomcommune=La Couvertoirade
région=Midi-Pyrénées
département=Aveyron
arrondissement=Millau
canton=Nant
insee=12082
cp=12230
maire=Marie José Laborie
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=
longitude=3.31722222222
latitude=43.9138888889
alt moy=800 m
alt mini=640
alt maxi=900 m
hectares=6191
km²=61.91
sans=153
date-sans=1999
dens=2
date-dens=1999La Couvertoirade is a commune in the
Aveyron department in southwesternFrance .Geography
La Couvertoirade is located on the
Larzac plateau.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.
External links
* [http://www.lacouvertoirade.com/ Tourist office website]
* Pictures of the Knights Templar Castle: [http://www.cathares.org/N34-1409-la-couvertoirade.jpg] , [http://www.ardechephotos.com/tours-chateaux/126_entre%20couvertoirade..jpg]
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