Terraced landscapes in France
28.09.2017, by Bénédicte Gaillard
Research: Alexandra Kruse & Bénédicte Gaillard; Upload: Bénédicte Gaillard. The entries are still in process
Artificial terraced landscape date back early and historical findings prove wine cultivation at the rivers through Romans. They already used prepared terraces for the cultivation.
The majority of terraces is used for fruit, olive and wine production in the southern parts of France. There is also nut production.
In France terraces are still in use and are maintained and also newly constructed or changed etc. According to the ground we have many different forms, from very steep and small terraces up to long ones with only marginal steps between the different terraces. Sometimes one is not even sure, if one see one (plain) field or a terraced field.
They occur mainly in the south of France in the hilly or even mountain regions and at some river slops.
Natural terraces do only occur next to rivers in the high mountains. Most (all others) are artificial – towards different extent – in order to make production possible (at all), or more profitable, to use inclination better