A walk around Laprade Basse
I walked around the village where my family has lived since 1812 (or perhaps even earlier). It is located in the south of France, about 30 km north of Carcassonne. The village has 12 inhabitants, a lake, and is surrounded by forest. It lies at an altitude of 750 meters. The walk goes around the lake, following a path of almost 6 km. It’s easy, as it is almost flat and well maintained. It is always shaded by the forest, and offers views over the lake.
   With a bit of luck, you might spot some wildlife during the walk. The hardest to see – and especially to photograph – is the roe deer. It is very wary and bolts as soon as it hears a walker. Being very curious, once it feels far enough away it will turn back to see who is passing. That’s the moment to be ready and quick with your camera. Birds, butterflies and dragonflies are plentiful. There are also many wild boar, but they tend to come out at night.
     The lake is artificial, built in 1985 to store water. Two years ago, a watersports centre was built to make the most of the water-based activities that are set to develop.
   The forest holds a few surprises if you venture a little way off the path. Old farms, which must have seen their heyday, stand in unlikely spots, bearing witness to a bygone splendour. The forest is rich in mushrooms, though it’s not the season for them at the moment.
   A few pictures of the village, which is in fact a hamlet, with the main village 11 km away. The houses are old, and in winter it gets cold here. The church is very small and holds a service twice a year. In one of the photos, you can see, behind the church, the old school, closed in the early 1980s due to a lack of pupils, and now bought and renovated by the son of the last schoolteacher. The last photo shows the village’s small cemetery, perfectly shaded and ready for climate change. It is located about 300 metres from the houses, reflecting old beliefs or fears that preferred to keep a little distance between the living and the dead.
    