L’Ariège from the Height
Corresponding to the mountainous part of the department, Haute-Ariège,
Spreads from Foix, capital of Ariège to the Spanish borders of the Catalans,
Its medieval universe crossed by the main river called Ariège,
Is limited to old fortifications, spoulgas or rickety castles.
But what do we do in Ariège? Soldiers and iron!
Said Commander Thomas Bazil to Napoleon on the evening of the battle of Eylau, in the underworld,
Response largely due to this small mountain republic of the People of Sos,
Who exploited for six centuries the iron deposit of Rancié, in the valley of Vicdessos
Since the Iron Age, this valley of the upper Ariège has provided almost stainless steel,
The Rancié mountain made up of a block of hematite and durable manganese oxide,
After the exploitation of the ore, all wrought iron instruments were made and sharpened,
The foresters made the coal and the carters the transport to the forges on the back of mules.
Commanded by a forge master, the forges will be installed in the valley
They will buy charcoal and ore at prices fixed by the Consuls,
Calculated so that everyone has his due, allowing him to enjoy his life with dignity,
From the 16th c. this valley will become unavoidable as far as metallurgy is concerned.
But the beech forests will pay a heavy price for the production of charcoal,
What will trigger in the 19th century. the War of the Demoiselles shared with those of Couserans,
The adventure will end in 1929 when the elected officials of the Third Republic of yesteryear,
Taking as a pretext a disaster having caused three deaths, the mine will be closed by law.
Simple installation, each forge, established close to the forests, at the edge of a torrent,
With a crucible, its water pump and a hammer for the manufacture of high-performance metal,
With the closure of the mines, the Catalan forges will also disappear,
Marking in Ariège the end of an industrial, political and artisan world.nstallation simple,
Guy Pujol says l’ARIÉ…..JOIE