Autrefois, la Vallée de la Clarée - Jean-Louis Gonon

Autrefois, la Vallée de la Clarée - Jean-Louis Gonon
(Formerly, the Valley of Clarée)

The author, born in Arles of high alpine parents, spent all his holidays in the farm of his grandparents in Val-des-Près, a small village in the heart of the valley of Clarée. In the years 1950 to 1965, in the shadow of his uncle farmer, he became immersed in the laborious life of these mountain people who live in self-sufficiency in subsistence agriculture.

Today, it traces all the customs that marked its childhood. Through the anecdotes and photos, a difficult period in which the families had no comfort, struggled to survive with their many activities. Agricultural activity with crops of cereals and legumes (wheat, barley, oats, lentils) or market gardening (potatoes, raves, salads and cabbage which held an important part in the food). Breeding with sheep, chickens, rabbits, some had some cows and of course a mule or horse. Forestry: the forest provided heating as well as wood for the home, furniture and tools. Lastly, the craft industry, the baskets, as well as the processing of local products, cheeses, jams ...

Only with the establishment of the ski resort of Montgenèvre will the valley open to tourism and allow farmers to become "double-active" by working in winter at the ski lifts and the rest of the time at fields. Through his memories, the author makes you cross the era of his childhood without television or internet but so rich in contacts and discoveries.

Editions of Fournel.