The “Joncels Express” will set off on Thursday, August 8 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Aubrac line

La compagnie Gérard Gérard proposera un spectacle inédit : “Attention aux départs”. DR

The Aubrac line, a regional rail link that connects Béziers to Clermont-Ferrand via Neussargues, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. This is an opportunity to organize a festive afternoon in the town of Joncels on Thursday, August 8, with shows, a concert, activities to discover the village, and a conference.

The Aubrac line, a true regional balance train, links Béziers to Clermont-Ferrand via Neussargues. Between 1858 and 1888, in several stages, the Compagnie du Midi tackled this technical feat: building a railway line between the Mediterranean (Béziers terminus) and the City of Light, Paris. The task was not easy. On the Aubrac section, 277 km long, the terrain plays between climbs and descents. No fewer than 83 bridges and tunnels punctuate the line, including the famous Garabit viaduct, which we owe to Gustave Eiffel and Léon Boyer. A 560m long steel monster that towers 120m above the Truyère gorges between Saint-Flour and Saint-Chély-d'Apcher.

See you on August 8th in Joncels

This Aubrac line, which almost disappeared with the construction of the A75 and the advent of road transport, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. To celebrate the event, the town of Joncels will live to the rhythms of the “Joncels Express”, on Thursday, August 8, from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Shows, concerts, village discovery activities and conferences are on the program for this festive day. The municipality of Joncels, the Grand Orb community of communes in partnership with the Region, the SNCF, the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park, the Pays Haut-Languedoc and Vignobles, the associations l’Étoile ferroviaire des Hauts Cantons, Patrimoine Culture et Traditions de Joncels, the Pluralist Committee for the Defense of the Line and Hérault Transport have joined forces to offer a "train" of entertainment to the public.

The program of festivities

From 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (choice): mini-hikes, heritage tour of the village of Joncels, treasure hunt.

From 5pm to 6:30pm (your choice): conference on the history of the Aubrac line, followed by a round table “How to reopen stations in rural areas” ?; show for young audiences, Le son des cailloux by the Compagnie des Petites choses.

All afternoon: exhibition on the Aubrac line; mobility stand; stand of the tourist office; refreshment bar.

From 7 p.m. à 8 p.m. 30 p.m.: show Watch out for departures by the company Gérard Gérard.

À from 8:30 p.m., concert by the group Les enfants terribles from Anachronic Tribu; catering on site.

Street theatre and entertainment

During the afternoon, the latter will be able to discover the acrobatic show Attention au départ by the Gérard Gérard company with the Joncels Abbey in the background. “A splendid setting for this unique performance on the history of the Aubrac line, on the victorious struggles and the voluntary reverie, on the technical prowess and the landscapes”, the organizers explain. This show mixes, in fact, street theater, dance, acrobatics, slackline, music and documentary. The result of two years of residency around the Aubrac line, supported by the Eure’kart association. Around this special show, other events will punctuate this celebration dedicated to the Aubrac line.

On the occasion of this event, an event train will connect Béziers (departure at 2:12 p.m.) to Joncels with stops at Magalas, Bédarieux, Le Bousquet-d’Orb and Lunas. Reservations can be made on the Grand Orb website (www.grandorb.fr). In addition, a special bus, departing from Saint-Pons-de-Thomières will also be available (reservations at 06 82 15 62 78). I subscribe to read the rest