VTT N°05 - Nissac Causse

2 points of interest

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  History and heritage

  Caussaunejouls Lavogne

  How a lavogne works is very easy to understand; imagine a gigantic upturned umbrella that collects rainwater!

  In the beginning, there was a natural pond with impervious clay soil. This small pond was a real boon for people who quickly set these watering sources up as they were so critical on the causses where water seeps into the cracked limestone. First, they tiled the inside of the pond and finished off the work by laying paving stones around the edge of the pond to preserve the water quality and prevent gullying due to the large flocks trampling the soil when the sheep come to drink.

  The pond tiling was made either with lauzes, flat stones or with paving stones laid one after the other.

  Once completed, this gigantic upturned umbrella would provide a great variety of animals with a welcoming habitat, just look down over a lavogne and see how it swarms and buzzes with life; what a frenzy of activity!

  From this lavogne, you will enjoy a stunning view to the north over the Combalou, a residual mound that shelters the Roquefort maturing caves.

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  Agropastoralism

  Hermilix Lavogne

  Typical of the Causses region, lavognes are traditional water reservoirs designed to collect and retain rainwater in an area where water quickly disappears into the limestone bedrock. Built around a natural depression with an impermeable clay base, they were essential for providing drinking water to livestock.

  To preserve water quality and prevent erosion caused by animals, the bottom and edges were carefully paved with stone slabs and flat stones.

  Today, the Hermilix Lavogne is also a haven for a wide variety of wildlife, making it a small but thriving ecosystem.