The Grand Site de France label will be awarded to the Grand Site Salagou Mourèze

La démarche était engagée depuis une quinzaine d’années. JM – JM

La Commission supérieure des sites perspectives et paysages vient de donner son aval à l’obtention du Label Grand Site de France. C’est désormais une certitude le label sera décerné au site du Grand site Salagou Cirque de Mourèze.

This Thursday, May 23, all the lights are now green for the landscapes of Salagou-Mourèze. After years of work, actions, and procedures carried out as part of Operation Large Site launched in the mid-2010s, the CSSPP has just given "a very favorable opinion, unanimously from each of its members, (for the site's candidacy for the label)", confirms Marie Passieux, president of the Syndicat Mixte Salagou -Cirque de Mourèze, site manager.

"A victory for the whole territory"

After recent positive inspection visits, after the Réseau des Grands Sites gave its approval, this final validation therefore brings the last stone to the edifice of a very long and meticulous application. It is now certain that the label will be awarded, for 8 years, as soon as the Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, Christophe Béchu, has signed the document. Because its allocation is subject to the implementation of a project to protect landscapes, biodiversity and manage and welcome visitors. "It’was a much-awaited step, a fundamental step, appreciates Marie Passieux who completes : it’is recognition of all the work that the’ we do and it is the validation of the territorial project that we shared with everyone. This is a victory for the territory."

Because beyond the beauty of the landscapes, the project was supported by a sacred union."This confirms the collaborative work that we have put in place. I thank everyone who supported us. In recent months, I really felt that people wanted to move on. There was a lot of resilience from all the struggles that happened in the past, they want to look to the future, I really felt it.

The heartland of Hérault: a golden triangle of landscapes

"I am very happy, it’s a new site which obtains the label. At the local level, I am very satisfied because it has been years since we launched this Large Site policy in the Hérault Department. We managed to obtain it for the Cirque de Navacelles and the Gorges de l’Hérault. And, for a few moments, in the Department of Hérault, and in the Heart of Hérault, we have three Grand Sites de France, it’s exceptional, it’s even unique in France ;rsquo;having three adjacent sites which have obtained the label", appreciates Louis Villaret, president of the Grands Sites network. Furthermore, according to the former president of the CCVH, this third label testifies to the fact that synergy, governance in good intelligence, works between & nbsp;these great sites. It is a recognition of the action of elected officials and it proves that the Country Heart of Hérault is an entity which has real coherence and which is well sized.

At the national level, 22 Large Sites are labeled. Around thirty are still awaiting validation. "In the Department of Hérault, we are still waiting for Minerve and the Canal du Midi*, with Fonseranes and the Malpas Tunnel, which are in the approach".

The Canal du Midi is classified by UNESCO. I subscribe to read more