The right of esplèche

The city of Arles finds that it is too vast. A short time ago, part of its territory separated from it and was established as a separate commune under the name of Saint-Louis-du-Rhône. Despite this amputation, it still has an area of ​​more than 90,000 hectares, four times more than the city of Marseille.

The pretty Arlesiennes do not want to wear out their heels on such a vast territory any more. So they used all their powers of persuasion to have a new commune formed. And so it will be done shortly. Part of Arles-Est will become a separate municipality and will be called Saint-Martin-de-Crau. The new commune, as well as the old one, will enjoy the right of esplèche.

What is this right, which is only mentioned in the archives of the Crau region? This is a special custom due to the pastoral life of the Arlesians, which has very distant traditions. La Crau is a sheep-grazing area and is communal property. The right of esplèche allows the inhabitants to take their flocks to graze there, from Mid-Lent to Saint-Michel, for a small fee paid to the town. In the past, the right of esplèche also included the right to "bûcherer" and "lignerer", that is to say to collect firewood; but today, it simply designates the right to graze sheep. It is a survival of the ancient customs of the Middle Ages. And, for nothing in the world would the inhabitants of La Crau let themselves be dispossessed of it.