Bugarach

Commune in Occitanie, France

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Commune in Occitania, France

Bugarach Burgarag
Commune
A general view of Bugarach
Coat of arms
Location of Bugarach
(2020–2026)		Jean-Pierre Delord^[1]
Area ¹	26.62 km² (10.28 sq mi)
Population (2021)^[2]	240
• Density	9.0/km² (23/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	11055 /11190
Elevation	340–1,231 m (1,115–4,039 ft) (avg. 427 m or 1,401 ft)
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Bugarach (French pronunciation: [byɡaʁaʃ] ^ⓘ; Occitan: Bugarag^[3]) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France, around 35 km south of Carcassonne. The economy is based on agriculture and tourism, attracting many New Age adherents.

Geography

Bugarach is at the foot of Pic de Bugarach, a 1,230 metres (4,040 ft) mountain peak and the highest summit in the Corbières Massif. The peak is also called the "upside down mountain" as the top layers of rock are older than the lower layers due to uplift of the Pyrenees.

It is also located on the Green Meridian.

History

The location is mentioned for the first time as Villa Burgaragio in 889 AD;^[4] it derives from the name "Bugari" of the Bulgarian Bogomilis in medieval France.^[5] In the 18th century the village became known for manufacturing wooden tools and hats. In modern times many esoteric and UFO legends have been connected to this place.

Economy

The major economic activity of the village and surrounding region is agriculture and tourism. Demand for holiday cottages and popularity with New Age followers led to a rise in real estate prices.^[6]

Cult settlements

In the 1960s and 70s Pic de Bugarach became popular with the hippie movement. Later in the 20th century it became popular with New Age followers who believed the "upside down mountain" had mystical powers, spreading to the belief that the village would be spared in the forecast 2012 apocalypse.^[7]^[8]^[9]

Cult followers believed aliens resided inside the mountain and would spare any humans that decide to leave the planet with them in the coming apocalypse.^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14] In 2011, the number of visitors doubled to over 20,000 and France's cult watchdog, Miviludes, placed the village under scrutiny due to concern over possible mass suicides. The mayor even considered calling the army over concerns caused by this issue.^[15]^[16]

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1962	111	—
1968	156	+40.5%
1975	125	−19.9%
1982	144	+15.2%
1990	153	+6.2%
1999	176	+15.0%
2008	193	+9.7%
2011	200	+3.6%

References

^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
^ "Josiana Ubaud, Montanhas nòstras" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
^ Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieux en France, Ch. Rostaing 1963
^ Lionel Fanthrope, Patricia Fanthrope, Mysteries of Templar, Treasure & the Holy Grail: The Secrets of Rennes Le Chatea Weiser Books, 2004, ISBN 157863315X, p. 68.
^ The end of the world is ... real estate boom, The Independent, 24 May 2011
^ Paris, Henry Samuel (21 December 2010). "French village which will 'survive 2012 Armageddon' plagued by visitors". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
^ Varley, Emmy (15 December 2010). "The Apocalypse December 31, 2012? There is a refuge in the Aude" (in French). AFP. Archived from the original on 18 February 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
^ Cyril Hofstein, Bugarach, the village of the end times,Le Figaro, February 18, 2011
^ Pfeiffer, Eric. "Pic de Bugarach: French commune home to 20,000 'doomsday cultists' awaiting alien salvation". Yahoo. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
^ Pickup, Oliver (25 March 2012). "Hippies head for Noah's Ark: Queue here for rescue aboard alien spaceship". The Independent. London. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
^ Richard, Jocelyn (26 March 2012). "Apocalypse 2012: France's Bugarach Peak Draws Believers Who Await Alien Rescuers". Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
^ Bockman, Chris (8 July 2011). "news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9531861.stm". BBC. BBC. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
^ NÉGRONI, ANGÉLIQUE (5 July 2011). "July 05, 2011". Time. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
^ Fichot, Nicolas (27 June 2011). "French village bemused by Apocalyptic strangers". Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
^ Buffery, Vicky (15 June 2011). "French village seen at threat from Apocalypse sects". Reuters. Archived from the original on 19 June 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.