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Millau
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MILLAU
, subprefecture of the Aveyron
dAŠpartement
and second town after Rodez in the old province of Rouergue, occupies a beautiful site in a bend of the River Tarn at its junction with the Dourbie. It is enclosed on all sides by impressive white cliffs, formed where the rivers have worn away the edges of the
causses
, especially on the north side, where the spectacular table-top hill of the
Puech d'Andan
stands sentinel over the town. From medieval until modern times, thanks to its proximity to the sheep pastures of the
causses
, the town was a major manufacturer of leather goods, especially gloves. Although outclassed by cheaper producers in the mass market and suffering serious unemployment as a result, Millau still leads in top-of-the-range goods. The town recently hit the headlines when one of its residents, 47-year-old
JosAŠ BovAŠ
, leader of the farm-workers' union, was put on trial and given a three-month sentence for his involvement in trashing a McDonald's restaurant that was being built in Millau in 1999. He was protesting against globalization and against
la mal bouffe
- junk food. Around 40,000 supporters turned out at his trial and he is regarded as a hero by many French farmers. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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France,
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