Twelve years after the first drafts, the “Roquefort tomorrow” project has just been launched

Bernard Sirgue espère voir achever le projet en 2025, année du centenaire de l'appellation Roquefort. DR – newsroom

Le projet de réaménagement touristique et de revitalisation du village de Roquefort-sur-Soulzon débutera par la création d'un parking de 350 places. 

After 12 years of waiting, procrastination, delays and "very lively" meetings, the "Roquefort Demain& ;quot; will soon emerge from the ground. A vast program of tourist redevelopment and revitalization of the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, it was launched in 2012 under the municipality of the irremovable Bernard Sirgue. This new complex includes the development of a parking lot that can accommodate 350 vehicles as well as the creation of a central square which will accommodate the Maison du Roquefort entirely dedicated to the local star. All connected by two elevators, the shaft of which will be dug into the rock. 

Since Thursday, the mechanical machines have been busy on the first "block" of the construction site which could – it is the mayor's wish – end in 2025, the centenary year of the appellation. A speed which contrasts with the slowness of the project imagined to compensate for the drop in tourist numbers in the village of 300 souls. 

Reorganization of flows

"The opening of the Millau Viaduct in 2004 generated extraordinary attendance for Roquefort with nearly 400,000 visitors per year , rewinds the edile. Except that, little by little, it eroded. In this case what could we do ? Either cross our arms and wait for the next viaduct. Either roll up your sleeves to try to welcome visitors in the best possible way by improving the attractiveness of Roquefort." 

A second option supported by the community and today the Combalou Mixed Union – made up of representatives of the Region, the Department and the community of communes –  which consists of the requalification of public spaces "by the reorganization of circulatory flows with the creation of a village center and the creation of new parking spaces.& quot;

In charge, the Rayssac agency, a firm of architects and town planners located in Narbonne, selected to bring together industrial activity and tourist activity in this project, the envelope of which is around 9 million euros financed in equal parts by the community of municipalities, the Department and the Region .

The first machines took possession of the premises for the development of a car park with 350 spaces. A.D.

"Restore the positive image of Roquefort"

At least for the moment. Because the State has also positioned itself to support Roquefort tomorrow to the tune of 4.5 million euros in as part of the Future Mountains plan. A sum initially allocated to another part of the project aimed at connecting the central square to the Combalou rock, located overlooking the village, using tethered balloons. Except that here again, the company selected has since filed for bankruptcy. 

"All that is put on hold for the moment, confirms Bernard Sirgue. Time for us to find a new technical solution that is feasible and financially sustainable to get up there. It's an amount that we wouldn't want to lose, but we're not going to do anything because we have 4 million to spend.

In the meantime, the mayor does not hide his satisfaction at the idea of ​​seeing his new village take shape very soon. "C& #39;is a beautiful project which strengthens Roquefort for the next 30 years… even beyond. And which will restore the positive image of Roquefort that we wish to bring up to date." 

With in fine, the project to magnify the Roquefort heritage, its know-how, its traditions and raise  Roquefort ranks as an exceptional site with a projection of 120,000 visitors/year. More or less, attendance recorded in 2023.