Promised rebirth of a saved village of water.

1959: The wine crisis leads the authorities to consider a reconversion of the vineyard in orchard, which requires dune creation holds deau for lirrigation. First studies for ledification dun stopping on the brook of Salagou, whose risings are often spectacular.

1959-1968: Period dachats and expropriation of the properties concerned with the setting in water of the valley envisaged in two times: all dabord with the dimension 139 then 150. Those (altitude143 m) is intended to be submerged at the time of the second stage of realization of reserve, indemnized, the owners remain for the majority attached to their grounds and their village. The department of Hérault becomes owner of the quasi totality of the village, except communal buildings (town hall, old school, church, residences of the priest and linstitutrice).

October 1969: Setting in water of the stopping. Torrential rains fill with half reserve in three days. The lake will spend then three years to reach its current level, 139 Mr. the former owners leave the village in front of the rise of water, but the statute of common continue. Mr. Marcel GOUDAL being a mayor.

1970: Plundering of the houses by handymen of Sunday. Installation of "hippies" which will remain 3 years.
Installation dun shepherd. Mr. Ruban BOUDOU, in the hamlet of Vailhés depend on the commune of Celles and also deserted after purchase from the properties by the department.

1971: Local election Mr. Henri GOUDAL. is elected pond. Mr. Yves ALDERS, old living of assistant Vailhés.

I 980: Installation in the municipal buildings of Mr. Joseph BIENVENIDO, called Bichettes, which without water neither electricity nor telephone will ensure the guarding of the village. The flight becomes less intensive but the already stripped houses of the tiles, windows and tilings are dilapidated quickly.

1984: Installation second stockbreeder in Vailhés under the pressure of the agricultural trade unionism, and conclusion of long beams for the two families in place, conferring a right in rem to them. It's the first stage towards a repopulation of the commune.

1985 -88: Rehabilitation of the secretariat of town hall, church, then installation of two apartments in the communal residences. Telephone and electric connection. Creation of "let us save Celles association". Those by the children of the last owners, having the aim of proving the reality of the Community life a project of fastening of Those with a common neighbor.

1989: Council Decision in favour of the maintenance of statute of the commune.

1991: Adjustment of the place of the village.

1993: Creation of lassociation "all the family" which takes over "let us save Those to ensure the promotion and lanimation of the village, First festival" Rockn Ruffes lété.

1995: Mr. Henri GOUDAL puts a term at his functions of mayor after 4 consecutive mandates. Joelle daughter is elected mayor, living Aline DELFOSSE of Vailhés assistant. Installation of Guingette proposing of regular estival animations by the means of lassociation "Celles, the life".

February 1996: The General Council of Hérault has definitively fixed the maximum dimension of the lake at 139m, releasing thus officially.

1997: EIaboration by the municipality of the project "Oasis of the talents and nature", proposing at the department Hérault and Stateto undertake a rehabilitation of the village directed towards lart and nature. The project is considered to be too dependent on public financings under investment and operation and is classified without continuation.

January 15, 2000: Local edition of the "Free South" announces approximately title a "rain of dollars on Salagou" It's a project of hotel complex of great scale with golf financed by an American investor and supported by the department of Hérault, whose limplantation is considered on the territory of the commune of Celles, with balance of the hamlet of Vailhés. In front of the strong mobilization of opinion and legal obstacles (the had a presentiment of grounds are occupied under a mode of long beams conferring a right practically equivalent to a temporary property), the project is quickly abandoned. In parallel, the general council proposes dengager a new reflexion on future village of Those.

2001: Elude with a departmental financing on lopportunity to rehabilitate the village of Celles: the proposals emitted will not very exploitable washing of the department like commune.

March 2001: Local elections, Joelle Goudal starts a second mandate of mayor, with for assistant Antoine Bernard, inhabitant of Vailhés.

January 2002: The municipality presents a new project of rehabilitation at the department. This time, it sagit to support limplantation on the village contractors, and of their family, specialized in the trades concerned with environment , and in particular of environmental construction, in order to create an alive pole holding place of reference on the matter. The globality of the project (public infrastructures and private investments)Being registered in a step High Quality of Environnement.

2002: Series of meetings of work makes it possible to refine the project.

February 2003: The department elects the company Hérault Aménagement to carry out feasibility studies of the project.

March 2003: A first meeting of sensitizing has gathered with Those ten contractors area, architects, engineering and design departments, companies of éco-construction, manufacturers drink, solar fitters… For the first time for 30 years it is allowed to hope to see reviving this village.

To follow

Camp-site
Le Mas du lac du Salagou Celles
Phone +334.67.96.36.79

Rural Lodgin
hameau de Vailhes-Celles
Phone +334.67.44.16.33