Aurelle-Verlac (; Languedocien: Aurèla e Verlac) is a former commune in the Aveyron department in the Occitanie region of southern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Saint-Geniez-d'Olt-et-d'Aubrac.Arrêté préfectoral 6 November 2015

Geography Aurelle-Verlac is located in the Massif Central in Aubrac some 60 km east of Decazeville and 70 km south-east of Aurillac with the eastern border of the commune being the border between Aveyron and Lozère departments. Access to the commune is by road D503 from Saint-Geniez-d'Olt in the south which goes north through the village and most of the length of the commune before going west to join the D219 west of the commune. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Crespiac, Verelaguet, Les Mazes, La Frassinede, Naves d'Aubrac, La Molière, Moncan, Rieuzens, Bernie, Les Caps, and Les Ginestes. The commune is mainly deep valleys where boraldes flow down to the Lot. The highest point in the department is on the Signal de Mailhe-Biau in the north-east of the commune.Aurelle-Verlac on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website It is located in a Natura 2000 zone and is rugged with forests and high country farming.Google Maps

The Ruisseau de Mardonenque rises in the north and flows south down the centre of the commune gathering tributaries including the Ruisseau de Monette, the Ravin de Placaus, the Ravin des Rives, the Ravin de la Coste, the Ravin de la Ligue, and the Ruisseau de Rioubasset, which forms the south-eastern border, before continuing south to join the Lot near Saint-Geniez-d'Olt. The Ruisseau de Bonance also rises in the north of the commune and flows south towards the eastern side of the commune forming part of the eastern border before continuing south to join the Lot near Pomayrols. On the western side of the commune the Merdanson forms the western border of the commune as it flows south to join the Lot near Cabanac. The Ruisseau de Rioudis and the Ruisseau de Mandialou both rise in the commune and join the Merdanson on the western border.

Neighbouring communes and villages

Heraldry

Administration List of Successive MayorsList of Mayors of France

From To Name Party Position 1793 1797 Pierre Jean Duarn 1798 1801 Jean Claude Galdemar 1802 1816 Jean Bach 1816 1822 Antoine Niel 1822 1827 Jean Pierre Auguy 1827 1831 François Joseph Rauquayrol 1831 1849 Jean Pierre Auguy 1849 1851 Jacques Poujol 1852 1857 Jean Pierre Auguy 1857 1864 Jean Antoine Alazard 1864 1870 Baptiste Mounie 1870 1878 Jean Pierre Auguy 1878 1884 Etienne Marcilhac 1884 1884 Louis Alazard 1884 1902 Louis Miquel 1902 1919 Louis Alazard

Mayors from 1919

From To Name Party Position 1919 1947 Antoine Alazard 1947 1965 Théophile Auguy 1965 1971 Jean Foulquier 1971 1983 Jean Vialard 1983 2008 Paul Garces 2008 2016 Jean-Pierre Niel

Demography The inhabitants of the commune are known as Aurellacois or Aurellacoises in French.Le nom des habitants du 12 - Aveyron, habitants.fr

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage The Fortified Farm of AubignacThe fortified farm of Aubignac

Religious heritage The commune has two religious buildings that are registered as historical monuments: The Church of Saint-Jacques de Verlac (11th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée is Romanesque and depended on the Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu. It is located in the village centre surrounded by a small cemetery and built from local materials: schist for the walls, basalt, tuff, and sandstone for the cut stones. Its plan consists of a single nave with pointed columns terminated by an apse in a cul-de-four design. Two chapels, built later, act as transepts. The church contains a Bronze Bell (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy which is registered as a historical object. The Church of Saint-Pierre d'Aurelle (1384)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée is the smallest Romanesque church in France. It has a unique history. In 1382, on the pretext of the arrival of the English, the Marquis of Beaufort, Baron of Aurelle, destroyed the church. On being excommunicated, he was obliged by the bishop to rebuild the church in a year. The new church was rebuilt inside the village in 1384 with the old materials. The Church of Saint-Martin-de-Montbon contains a Bronze Bell (1762)Ministry of Culture, Palissy which is registered as a historical object.

Other religious structures of interest The Rode Cross was erected by the lord of Peyre in 1377. The Berque CrossBerque Cross is located at Les Mazes rising from the Vergnes Cross. It was built in 1531 and marked the boundary of the barony of Aurelle between the domA name given to certain religious, particularly in the Benedictine, Carthusian, and Trappist orders. lands of Aubrac and those of the Marquis of Canilhac. On one of its faces it has an expressive though stylized virgin with child.

Bibliography Christian-Pierre Bedel, Sent-Ginièis, Aurela-Verlac, Pèira-Ficha, Pomairòls, Pradas, Senta-Aularia / Christian-Pierre Bedel and the inhabitants of the commune of Sent-Ginièis, Rodez, Mission départementale de la culture, 1991, Al canton collection, 230 pages, ill., cov. ill., 28 cm, , ISSN 1151-8375, BnF 36653864f

See also Communes of the Aveyron department

Notes

References

External links Non-official Aurelle-Verlac website Aurelle-Verlac on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website Aurelle and Verlac on the 1750 Cassini Map