Emilie Carles: fighting for nature
May 27, 2024Meet a woman from the valley who dedicated her life to preserving the Clarée Valley and bore the brunt of protests to prevent large-scale projects that would have denaturalized and destroyed the mountains, our natural heritage.
Nature conservation
Emilie Carles, born Emilie Allais on May 29, 1900, in Val des Près, was a teacher and writer. Her autobiographical book, Une soupe aux herbes sauvages (A Soup of Wild Herbs), published in 1977 in several languages, is a global bestseller. It is still part of the French literature curriculum in universities in the United States and in primary schools in the Briançonnais region.
"Une soupe aux herbes sauvages" (A Wild Herb Soup) is the story of a well-lived life. It also teaches us about the life led by the inhabitants of a mountain village at the beginning of the 20th century, where work was hard and rewards often meager. Émilie thrived at school and ardently wished to become a teacher. She worked tirelessly toward this goal, juggling field work and schoolwork, and managed to obtain her teaching diploma in Paris in 1916.
Émilie Carles tells the story of the village of Val-des-Prés, its agriculture, its landscapes, and the balance between buildings, fields, and forests, which resonates all the more in these times of ecological awakening.
Opening of a boarding house in Val-des-Prés
During the interwar period, in addition to her work as a teacher, Emilie and Jean opened a boarding house in Val-des-Prés, on the family farm, in a large traditional building that can still be admired today: "Les Arcades." This large building now houses the canteen and daycare center for the Val-des-Prés and Les Alberts school district.
Back to basics
She returned to live in "her" mountains due to health concerns and taught at various schools in the Hautes Alpes, including Les Alberts. It was during this period that she met her husband, Jean Carles.
1970, the year of major projects
Emilie Carles is protesting against this project, which she believes will cause numerous problems, pollution, and damage to nature. With the aim of preserving this beautiful valley, she is helping to set up an association to protect it. Simple but powerful slogans such as "Sheep, not trucks" and "Leave the mountain dwellers in peace," posters, flyers, petitions, and hearings at the prefecture are helping to grow the association.
The association in motion
In 1975, a press conference was held in Paris, and it was another success for the movement! Emilie Carles responded appropriately and clearly explained the situation facing farmers and the need to protect nature. The protest grew and spread until it reached the town of Bardonecchia (Italy), which also feared being overwhelmed by the flood of vehicles.
A Natura 2000 area
Thanks to this battle, the project was finally abandoned and priority was given to protecting nature and air purity. Following this decision, the villages of Névache and Val-des-Prés were classified in 1992, ruling out any project that could spoil their natural character. In addition to this classification, the Clarée Valley is now a Natura 2000 site.
the fight of a lifetime
After a life of struggle, Emilie Carles passed away on July 29, 1979, at the age of 79, in her hometown of Val-des-Prés.
