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The old village's end
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« In november 1973, the dam was watered and the inhabitants of Les Salles-sur-Verdon had to leave their houses.

What's more touching than the transfer of the corpses from the old cemetery to the new one.
What's sadder than a village dieing slowly.
What's more distressing than to witness your village's disappearance, there where you were born, where you were teached reading, where you have always been.
What's more painful than the transformation of a green and merry landscape into a real desert.
What's more afflicting than to witness your houses fall, one after the other, through awful bulldozers. »



(from "Monographie des Salles-sur-Verdon", told by M. Simian François,
retired teacher of the Les Salles-sur-Verdon's Elementary School)


Les Salles, general view, 09/1972
 General view of the old village, before the beginning of the demolition
(september 1972).
February 9, 1974.
General view of the old village (from the same place than above), after the beginning of the demolition.
 Les Salles, general view, feb9, 1974


Les Salles, the entry of the village from Bauduen, july 1973
 		The entry of the village from Bauduen, before the beginning of the demolition
(july 1973).
February 9, 1974.
The entry of the village from Bauduen (from the same place than above), after the beginning of the demolition.
 Les Salles, entry of the village, feb9, 1974



January 2, 1974.
The main square, the 'Café Central' (pulled down), the post office. Since a few weeks, graffiti appeared on the walls of the village.

In white block letters, "EDF = VOLEURS PILLARDS"
("EDF = thieves, looters")

(EDF : Electricité de France,
french administration in charge of power supply) 		Graffiti on the main square, jan2, 1974


Rising of the water towards R.Signoret's house, feb23, 1974
 In february 1974, the last inhabitants are evicted without clash by the forces of Gendarmerie. They are M. Richard and M. Signoret, which house already bathes in the water of the lake.



How did we reach this point ?

 The dam's story (french version).

The details of the old village's death.





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